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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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Al514
Al514's profile picture
Central New York

Posts: 142
Al514 on May 20, 2008May 20th, 2008, 7:56 am EDT


I caught this brown trout today during a caddis hatch, and took a look inside of its mouth to see if I could see any of the bugs it was taking. When I looked inside its mouth, I saw these hook-like things on its tongue. This was a wild fish - I dont know if that has anything to do with it. Maybe its something I just haven't noticed before? Does anyone else see any of these on a trouts tongue?
Al514
Al514's profile picture
Central New York

Posts: 142
Al514 on May 23, 2008May 23rd, 2008, 3:19 pm EDT
No pictures this time - but, I caught some rainbows tonight and they ALL had these barbs on their tongue. I guess its just normal and I just didn't see them before.
Vermonter
Posts: 15
Vermonter on May 25, 2008May 25th, 2008, 3:40 pm EDT
Brown Trout Fly Fishing A Practical Guide by Chris Francis- Vomerine teeth...
Not sure about location in mouth vs tongue..
CaseyP
CaseyP's profile picture
Arlington, VA/ Mercersburg, PA

Posts: 653
CaseyP on May 30, 2008May 30th, 2008, 3:49 am EDT
caught the first of the season (15 inch stocked brown) on Wednesday and took the time to really look in the mouth: yep, 4 little teeth on the tongue. no wonder getting the hook out can be a scratchy business!

dropped the first trout i ever caught on my own right on the bank because i was so startled to feel the teeth. they don't tell you about them in beginner classes and books.
"You can observe a lot by watching." Yogi Berra

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