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.

Sunlight perfectly strikes the trees at a bend in the Foss River in the Washington Cascades.

From the Foss River in Washington

Stream photos

Featured on the forum

Re: Trico emergers
In the Mayfly Genus Tricorythodes by Bwoklink (Martinlf replied)

Re: Trico Tips
In the Mayfly Genus Tricorythodes by Martinlf

Re: UV spectrum and trout
In General Discussion by Martinlf

Re: closing the gender gap in flyfishing
In General Discussion by Konchu (Smallflyguy replied)

Re: Fishing Kupa River, Slovenia
In Fishing Reports by Slocum (Fish1 replied)

Epeorus albertae (Pink Lady) Mayfly Nymph Epeorus albertae (Pink Lady) Mayfly Nymph

Dorsal view of a Epeorus albertae (Heptageniidae) (Pink Lady) Mayfly Nymph from the East Fork Issaquah Creek in Washington

This specimen keys to the Epeorus albertae group of species. Of the five species in that group, the two known in Washington state are Epeorus albertae and Epeorus dulciana. Of the two, albertae has been collected in vastly more locations in Washington than dulciana, suggesting it is far more common. On that basis alone I'm tentatively putting this nymph in albertae, with the large caveat that there's no real information to rule out dulciana.

5 Recently Added Photos

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.

Troutnut is a project started in 2003 by salmonid ecologist Jason "Troutnut" Neuswanger to help anglers and fly tyers unabashedly embrace the entomological side of the sport. Learn more about Troutnut or support the project for an enhanced experience here.

National Weather Service in La Crosse captured the Hex hatch on radar

Wiflyfisher

Wisconsin

Posts: 622

Wiflyfisher on Jul 11, 2008July 11th, 2008, 7:02 am EDT

I thought others might enjoy reading this article...

http://www.lacrossetribune.com/articles/2008/07/11/news/03mayflowers11.txt

John S.
https://WiFlyFisher.com

Teddyp
North Carolina

Posts: 18

Teddyp on Jul 11, 2008July 11th, 2008, 9:57 am EDT

That's awesome!

Ted

GONZO
Site Editor
"Bear Swamp," PA

Posts: 1681

GONZO on Jul 14, 2008July 14th, 2008, 8:46 am EDT

Cool, John. For those who haven't seen Doppler tracking of Hex swarms before, here's a link to the PSU Behrend site that has several neat little movies and an explanation of how the Doppler tracking is done:

http://paaquaticfliesrus.bd.psu.edu/webroot/mayflies.asp

Wiflyfisher

Wisconsin

Posts: 622

Wiflyfisher on Jul 14, 2008July 14th, 2008, 1:46 pm EDT

Gonzo, Interesting! I would guess the size of the insects hatching and the density of the hatch has to be pretty amazing to show up. In my experience I have only heard of it on radar for the Hex. hatch, no other mayflies.

The E. luekon/album hatch I have seen on a couple occasions extremely dense as well and covered some bridges, but I have not heard of it on droppler radar.

John S.
https://WiFlyFisher.com