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Lateral view of a Female Hexagenia limbata (Ephemeridae) (Hex) Mayfly Dun from the Namekagon River in Wisconsin
Hex Mayflies
Hexagenia limbata

The famous nocturnal Hex hatch of the Midwest (and a few other lucky locations) stirs to the surface mythically large brown trout that only touch streamers for the rest of the year.

Dorsal view of a Setvena wahkeena (Perlodidae) (Wahkeena Springfly) Stonefly Nymph from Mystery Creek #199 in Washington
As far as I can tell, this species has only previously been reported from one site in Oregon along the Columbia gorge. However, the key characteristics are fairly unmistakable in all except for one minor detail:
— 4 small yellow spots on frons visible in photos
— Narrow occipital spinule row curves forward (but doesn’t quite meet on stem of ecdysial suture, as it's supposed to in this species)
— Short spinules on anterior margin of front legs
— Short rposterior row of blunt spinules on abdominal tergae, rather than elongated spinules dorsally
I caught several of these mature nymphs in the fishless, tiny headwaters of a creek high in the Wenatchee Mountains.
27" brown trout, my largest ever. It was the sub-dominant fish in its pool. After this, I hooked the bigger one, but I couldn't land it.
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LenH
driftless area

Posts: 58
LenH on Mar 4, 2008March 4th, 2008, 1:34 am EST


my first outing here of the year.

Wish me luck.
Al514
Al514's profile picture
Central New York

Posts: 142
Al514 on Mar 5, 2008March 5th, 2008, 7:50 am EST
How did you do?
LenH
driftless area

Posts: 58
LenH on Mar 6, 2008March 6th, 2008, 2:06 am EST
shell ice...

fished somewhere else for 2 hours...2 small browns...

went back...still shell ice.

water temps in 4 streams I took. 33/34/34/36...

Len

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