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.

Stream photos

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Perlodidae (Springflies and Yellow Stones) Stonefly Nymph Perlodidae (Springflies and Yellow Stones) Stonefly Nymph

Artistic view of a Perlodidae (Springflies and Yellow Stones) Stonefly Nymph from the Yakima River in Washington

This one seems to lead to Couplet 35 of the Key to Genera of Perlodidae Nymphs and the genus Isoperla, but I'm skeptical that's correct based on the general look. I need to get it under the microscope to review several choices in the key, and it'll probably end up a different Perlodidae.

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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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Tecniques for early season Lakers

Raybob
Posts: 2

Raybob on Apr 16, 2008April 16th, 2008, 12:32 am EDT

I am up in the North Kingdom of Vermont. Have never fished for Lake Trout. Can anyone give me a few pointers for early in the season right after the ice is gone.

Martinlf

Moderator
Palmyra PA

Posts: 3047

Martinlf on Apr 16, 2008April 16th, 2008, 9:29 am EDT

I'm not sure. Streamers in the shallow water?

"He spread them a yard and a half. 'And every one that got away is this big.'"

--Fred Chappell

Joec
portsmouth, nh

Posts: 8

Joec on Apr 16, 2008April 16th, 2008, 2:56 pm EDT

Follow the smelt, usually lakers will be nearby. It just seems though that lakers rarely venture into shallow water even in the early spring. Try to find water that is close to 30' deep adjacent to a small feeder brook which the smelt will use for spawning. Another great place to find lakers would be rocky shoals, again adjacent to deeper water is key. As for flies, any streamer that imitates a smelt can be effective. If you decide to troll, it is imperative that you troll slowly, in the range of .5 to 1 mile per hour. A controlled drift works too. I'd suggest that you find a lake that produces large numbers of fish rather than lunkers. It helps with the learning curve. You might try Seymour lake. Good Luck!