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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Grammotaulius betteni (Northern Caddisfly) Caddisfly Larva Grammotaulius betteni (Northern Caddisfly) Caddisfly Larva

Dorsal view of a Grammotaulius betteni (Limnephilidae) (Northern Caddisfly) Caddisfly Larva from the Yakima River in Washington

This is a striking caddis larva with an interesting color pattern on the head. Here are some characteristics I was able to see under the microscope, but could not easily expose for a picture:
- The prosternal horn is present.
- The mandible is clearly toothed, not formed into a uniform scraper blade.
- The seems to be only 2 major setae on the ventral edge of the hind femur.
- Chloride epithelia seem to be absent from the dorsal side of any abdominal segments.
Based on these characteristics and the ones more easily visible from the pictures, this seems to be Grammotaulius. The key's description of the case is spot-on: "Case cylindrical, made of longitudinally arranged sedge or similar leaves," as is the description of the markings on the head, "Dorsum of head light brownish yellow with numerous discrete, small, dark spots." The spot pattern on the head is a very good match to figure 19.312 of Merritt R.W., Cummins, K.W., and Berg, M.B. (2019). The species ID is based on Grammotaulius betteni being the only species of this genus known in Washington state.

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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.

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.

2nd annual fly swap, Page 5

JOHNW

Chambersburg, PA

Posts: 452

JOHNW on Mar 1, 2009March 1st, 2009, 4:06 am EST

Shawn, I thought that might be the case. Sweet little fly you tied there.
JW (aka Trouble Maker in Chief)

"old habits are hard to kill once you have gray in your beard" -Old Red Barn

CaseyP

Arlington, VA/ Mercersburg, PA

Posts: 653

CaseyP on Mar 1, 2009March 1st, 2009, 10:16 am EST

oh, yeah--it had all the earmarks: gorgeous, not easily tied, and no matter how big you magnify it, absolutely perfect.

i used it yesterday because the water on the little J was a bit cloudy from the rain the night before. something flashy seemed in order.

"You can observe a lot by watching." Yogi Berra

Shawnny3
Moderator
Pleasant Gap, PA

Posts: 1197

Shawnny3 on Mar 4, 2009March 4th, 2009, 10:11 am EST

Thanks, guys.

-Shawn

Jewelry-Quality Artistic Salmon Flies, by Shawn Davis
www.davisflydesigns.com

Flatstick96

Posts: 127

Flatstick96 on Mar 12, 2009March 12th, 2009, 7:00 am EDT

I see the secret behind the storied John Silver has finally been leaked to a select few; consider yourselves fortunate - not much escapes the Shawnny Vault.

Shawn, I hope this doesn't mean I have to start tying these for myself instead of raiding your box. I always figured that as long as you kept devising the patterns and I kept teaching you how to fish them, then we'd be even. Kidding, of course... ;-)

Shawnny3
Moderator
Pleasant Gap, PA

Posts: 1197

Shawnny3 on Mar 13, 2009March 13th, 2009, 8:07 am EDT

Yes, it's grudgingly that I open the vault. I only hope that what's inside doesn't prove to others to be something unworthy of a vault in the first place. But I'm trying to be more open with my things.

-Shawn

Jewelry-Quality Artistic Salmon Flies, by Shawn Davis
www.davisflydesigns.com

Martinlf

Moderator
Palmyra PA

Posts: 3047

Martinlf on Mar 13, 2009March 13th, 2009, 10:03 am EDT

OK, I've figured out the identity of our new member--as I thought. Welcome "Flatstick."

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

--Fred Chappell

Flatstick96

Posts: 127

Flatstick96 on Mar 16, 2009March 16th, 2009, 4:23 am EDT

Thanks Louis - good to be here (acutally, I've lurked for a LOOOOONG time; since the site's inception, as a matter of fact).

Now that I'm back in Texas I frequent the trout fishing sites far less than I used to (when I lived in SC I'd literally be on the FFP board and this site EVERY DAY). The problem, really, is that I can't even describe how much I miss being up there; some people seem to able to sate their appetite for the unattainable by living vicariously through the experiences of others, but for me it's just the opposite - the more I read and talk about it, the more bummed I get that I'm stuck down here.

I like to track Google Analytics for Shawn's site, and I'll often click through to see which threads have sent him traffic - that gets me back here from time to time. Finally I figured I might as well register and post the odd comment now and again.