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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 Ephemerella mucronata (Ephemerellidae) Mayfly Nymph from the Yakima River in Washington
This is an interesting one. Following the keys in Merritt R.W., Cummins, K.W., and Berg, M.B. (2019) and Jacobus et al. (2014), it keys clearly to Ephemerella. Jacobus et al provide a key to species, but some of the characteristics are tricky to interpret without illustrations. If I didn't make any mistakes, this one keys to Ephemerella mucronata, which has not previously been reported any closer to here than Montana and Alberta. The main character seems to fit well: "Abdominal terga with prominent, paired, subparallel, spiculate ridges." Several illustrations or descriptions of this holarctic species from the US and Europe seem to match, including the body length, tarsal claws and denticles, labial palp, and gill shapes. These sources include including Richard Allen's original description of this species in North America under the now-defunct name E. moffatae in Allen RK (1977) and the figures in this description of the species in Italy.
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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Grannom
Northwest PA

Posts: 87
Grannom on Mar 16, 2008March 16th, 2008, 12:07 pm EDT
I read in FlyFisherman about the possible removal of several dams on the Klamath, appearatly to improve anadromous fish migration. What's the news? Good? Bad?

Mike
"Be calm - you're there..." "...Tell yourself there's no rush, even if there is."

-John Gierach
Dano
Vanderbilt, Michigan

Posts: 101
Dano on Mar 18, 2008March 18th, 2008, 1:58 am EDT
Mike,

Sorry for the late reply; I just moved back to Michigan...

Any who, at the time I left all who were involved with this particular irrigation/water rights issue are in favor of and are recommending the removal of the four dams on the Klamath River. Naturally, Pacific Power is resistant to the recommendations. However, they do indicate that it would cost more to install fish ladders than dam removal. Next month it will all come to a head.

Even so, it will not happen overnight; property owners along the river do have very valid concerns in regard to the flooding that will occur as the dams are removed; if that ever does happen.

Probably the best place to go for current news would be Herald and News.com; the Klamath Falls newspaper. It is a fairly complex issue as their are a number of groups involved. FWIW.

Dano


Eventually, all things merge into one...and a river runs through it.

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