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.
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This specimen keys pretty easily to Onocosmoecus, and it closely resembles a specimen from Alaska which caddis expert Dave Ruiter recognized as this genus. As with that specimen, the only species in the genus documented in this area is Onocosmoecus unicolor, but Dave suggested for that specimen that there might be multiple not-yet-distinguished species under the unicolor umbrella and it would be best to stick with the genus-level ID. I'm doing the same for this one.
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VTBob
Posts: 1
Posts: 1
VTBob on Jun 2, 2009June 2nd, 2009, 4:17 pm EDT
Great info and photos. Fishing Catskills for first time, didn't know what a blue quill was. Looks like an #18, will a sparkle dun tie work?
Wbranch on Jun 2, 2009June 2nd, 2009, 7:39 pm EDT
Typically the emergence period for Paraleps (Blue Quills) has been over for at least three weeks in the Catskills. Any #16 - #18 fly with brownish gray body, slate gray wings, and dun hackle will work.
Catskill fly fisher for fifty-five years.
Mayfly on Jun 3, 2009June 3rd, 2009, 3:51 pm EDT
This insect is a key to bearing in mind at the moment of working an imitation of this boss can obtain a good day of fishing.
A fly of greyish tonalities with blue variations can guarantee a good imitation of this efhemeroptero
A fly of greyish tonalities with blue variations can guarantee a good imitation of this efhemeroptero
Entomology
GONZO on Jun 4, 2009June 4th, 2009, 9:18 am EDT
Bob,
Although Matt (Wbranch) is right about the early season Blue Quill (Paraleptophlebia adoptiva) emergence being well past, the Summer Blue Quills will hatch from now into the fall. All of the Eastern Blue Quill duns look about the same and are similar in size (about #16-18), but some of the summer (actually late spring to fall) species have very distinctive male spinners. Unlike the brown-bodied male spinners of the early season adoptiva, these have what fly fishers describe as the "Jenny Spinner" coloration: a brown thorax and whitish abdomen with a brown tip. The females have brown bodies. Look for the duns to emerge in side pockets, stream edges, and eddies from late morning into early afternoon.
Although Matt (Wbranch) is right about the early season Blue Quill (Paraleptophlebia adoptiva) emergence being well past, the Summer Blue Quills will hatch from now into the fall. All of the Eastern Blue Quill duns look about the same and are similar in size (about #16-18), but some of the summer (actually late spring to fall) species have very distinctive male spinners. Unlike the brown-bodied male spinners of the early season adoptiva, these have what fly fishers describe as the "Jenny Spinner" coloration: a brown thorax and whitish abdomen with a brown tip. The females have brown bodies. Look for the duns to emerge in side pockets, stream edges, and eddies from late morning into early afternoon.
Wbranch on Apr 9, 2012April 9th, 2012, 9:39 pm EDT
Gonzo,
Is the summer "Blue Quill" a Paraleptophlebia adoptiva or does it have another name?
Is the summer "Blue Quill" a Paraleptophlebia adoptiva or does it have another name?
Catskill fly fisher for fifty-five years.
Taxon on Apr 10, 2012April 10th, 2012, 12:45 am EDT
Gonzo,
Is the summer "Blue Quill" a Paraleptophlebia adoptiva or does it have another name?
Hi Matt,
Don't believe Gonzo has been tuned in for about six months, so I'll attempt to field your question for him. The summer-emerging Blue Quills are not P. adoptiva.
Here are the Paraleptophlebia species present in PA, and their approximate emergence date ranges:
P. adoptiva (Spring - Mar thru mid-May)
P. assimilis (don't know)
P. debilis (Summer - Jun thru mid-Aug)
P. moerens (Spring - late Apr thru mid-May)
P. mollis (Summer - Jun thru mid-Aug)
P. strigula (Summer - Jun thru mid-Aug)
Best,
Gutcutter on Apr 10, 2012April 10th, 2012, 3:16 am EDT
Matt
The Jenny Spinners in my neck of the woods emerge just before trico season starts and then starts to taper off towards the peak of the tricos.
They begin to hatch an hour or so after the last trico falls, so there is some time to get out of the water to pee and have another two cups of coffee before they start.
I have found them usually emerging from fast water very close to the edge, and Bruce picks up a lot swinging nymphs and wets there while I fumble around trying to look like I know what I'm doing while he makes fun of me.
The size 20 duns look huge compared to the tricos, and the fish smack dun and emerger patterns in this fast water.
I personally have never found rising fish during a spinnerfall, but hope spring eternal...
The spinners have what looks like a clear/transparent abdomen, and are quite a beautiful mayfly.
From a previous thread that I have saved:
I have tied some spent and sunken spinners with extended monofilament abdomens in the hopes of finding this activity, but sadly I haven't been so lucky.
I'm probably fumbling around again because when I start to see the spinner dance, the tiny olives start to come off and, well, you know about me and my attempts to break Marinaro's curse...
The Jenny Spinners in my neck of the woods emerge just before trico season starts and then starts to taper off towards the peak of the tricos.
They begin to hatch an hour or so after the last trico falls, so there is some time to get out of the water to pee and have another two cups of coffee before they start.
I have found them usually emerging from fast water very close to the edge, and Bruce picks up a lot swinging nymphs and wets there while I fumble around trying to look like I know what I'm doing while he makes fun of me.
The size 20 duns look huge compared to the tricos, and the fish smack dun and emerger patterns in this fast water.
I personally have never found rising fish during a spinnerfall, but hope spring eternal...
The spinners have what looks like a clear/transparent abdomen, and are quite a beautiful mayfly.
From a previous thread that I have saved:
According to Edmunds, the females will mate more than once and often proceed to shoreline foliage when finished with ovipositing as opposed to dying spent on the water. The males start the swarms first, often well before. They are often observed along the shoreline dipping from six to two feet and rising again. On occasion, many males for unknown reasons drop to the water at this time and become trapped in the meniscus. When the females finally arrive, they join them quickly at the top, copulate during the four foot fall, and just as quickly make short dives to either dip their abdomens into the water or land on the water to lay their eggs. Then it's up and back at it until they're finished. Edmunds reports that they will repeat this cycle as many as three times before they occasionally die spent on the water or more often head back to the bushes. This is good information for the angler to note.
I have tied some spent and sunken spinners with extended monofilament abdomens in the hopes of finding this activity, but sadly I haven't been so lucky.
I'm probably fumbling around again because when I start to see the spinner dance, the tiny olives start to come off and, well, you know about me and my attempts to break Marinaro's curse...
All men who fish may in turn be divided into two parts: those who fish for trout and those who don't. Trout fishermen are a race apart: they are a dedicated crew- indolent, improvident, and quietly mad.
-Robert Traver, Trout Madness
-Robert Traver, Trout Madness
Wbranch on Apr 10, 2012April 10th, 2012, 3:43 am EDT
Hi Tony,
I'm wondering if this other than P. adoptiva is even an important emergence on the Delaware system. I don't seem to ever remember seeing any of these little mayflies. Maybe the emergence is during heavier other more common, to me, hatches and I just don't notice them. I can say with 100% candor that I'd never heard of this fly until I saw the thread on this forum. Therefore I don't think I need to concern myself with tying any more flies.
Thanks for the info though.
I'm wondering if this other than P. adoptiva is even an important emergence on the Delaware system. I don't seem to ever remember seeing any of these little mayflies. Maybe the emergence is during heavier other more common, to me, hatches and I just don't notice them. I can say with 100% candor that I'd never heard of this fly until I saw the thread on this forum. Therefore I don't think I need to concern myself with tying any more flies.
Thanks for the info though.
Catskill fly fisher for fifty-five years.
Gutcutter on Apr 10, 2012April 10th, 2012, 4:05 am EDT
Therefore I don't think I need to concern myself with tying any more flies.
Thanks for the info though.
Matt
When we are on your beloved Delaware and I don't have a fly to match anything in the smorgasbord of stuff coming off the water, you supply the fly.
When we're on one of my spring creeks and the Jenny's come off, I'll supply the flies.
Deal?
All men who fish may in turn be divided into two parts: those who fish for trout and those who don't. Trout fishermen are a race apart: they are a dedicated crew- indolent, improvident, and quietly mad.
-Robert Traver, Trout Madness
-Robert Traver, Trout Madness
Martinlf on Apr 10, 2012April 10th, 2012, 4:21 am EDT
Matt, I'm sure you're right about the Delaware. I'd guess that Tony and Bruce are finding P. mollis (the summer BQ) in several central PA spring creeks where they fish Trico hatches. Personally, I've never seen a fishable hatch of P. mollis, though several fishing buddies in addition to Bruce and Tony tell me they have. I have seen a few of these bugs coming off in PA streams, one morning in particular on the Little Lehigh after a Trico hatch, but there were not enough to get the fish keyed in to them, and I didn't even think of trying to imitate the bug then. The spinners are known for fooling people into thinking they are Tricos, though they have a more up and down motion, and they never, never seem to fall on most waters, just fade away, as per Tony's post above. One buddy does fish the spinner fall, on a stream that he'd prefer I not name here, but it seems to have lots of P. mollis, and enough of the males must hit the water (again, see Tony's post--Edmunds' observations) to bring fish up.
"He spread them a yard and a half. 'And every one that got away is this big.'"
--Fred Chappell
--Fred Chappell
Wbranch on Apr 10, 2012April 10th, 2012, 4:59 am EDT
Tony,
You must be having a light surgery schedule today to be reading, and responding, to these posts!
"When we are on your beloved Delaware and I don't have a fly to match anything in the smorgasbord of stuff coming off the water, you supply the fly.
When we're on one of my spring creeks and the Jenny's come off, I'll supply the flies.
Deal?"
Okay, that sounds like a plan - when I'm in the boat I not only bring my vest but my boat bag with at least another 1000 flies.
You must be having a light surgery schedule today to be reading, and responding, to these posts!
"When we are on your beloved Delaware and I don't have a fly to match anything in the smorgasbord of stuff coming off the water, you supply the fly.
When we're on one of my spring creeks and the Jenny's come off, I'll supply the flies.
Deal?"
Okay, that sounds like a plan - when I'm in the boat I not only bring my vest but my boat bag with at least another 1000 flies.
Catskill fly fisher for fifty-five years.
Gutcutter on Apr 10, 2012April 10th, 2012, 6:16 am EDT
You must be having a light surgery schedule today to be reading, and responding, to these posts!
Matt
Tuesday is office day (and Troutnut day)
:)
All men who fish may in turn be divided into two parts: those who fish for trout and those who don't. Trout fishermen are a race apart: they are a dedicated crew- indolent, improvident, and quietly mad.
-Robert Traver, Trout Madness
-Robert Traver, Trout Madness
Crepuscular on Apr 10, 2012April 10th, 2012, 6:53 am EDT
For me the P. mollis is kind of a mystery. I see tons of them(spinners) on Penns, Big Fishing Creek etc, but don't see many on the water, but I have have been VERY successful fishing the spinner on Penns, go figure.
PaulRoberts on Apr 10, 2012April 10th, 2012, 7:44 am EDT
The heaviest mollis emergences I've seen were on the Cortland NY area stream called "Factory Brook" -which is actually the closest thing to a "spring creek" in the area, being mostly groundwater fed. I've seen the spinners too, but never a "fall".
Gutcutter on Apr 10, 2012April 10th, 2012, 3:52 pm EDT
For me the P. mollis is kind of a mystery. I see tons of them(spinners) on Penns, Big Fishing Creek etc, but don't see many on the water, but I have have been VERY successful fishing the spinner on Penns, go figure.
Eric
One of the streams that you mention (and one that you haven't) has a great P. mollis hatch in certain sections, and I have done very well with duns and emergers in July. The rising fish can be difficult to spot if you're not looking in the right places.
Some of my spinner frustration has been on this particular stream, but the hatch can be very rewarding to fish. I fish tricos from dawn until the fall has tapered off, then go to this stream around 10 to fish the blue quills.
PM me for more info if you're interested.
Tony
All men who fish may in turn be divided into two parts: those who fish for trout and those who don't. Trout fishermen are a race apart: they are a dedicated crew- indolent, improvident, and quietly mad.
-Robert Traver, Trout Madness
-Robert Traver, Trout Madness
Troutnut on Apr 10, 2012April 10th, 2012, 4:04 pm EDT
The heaviest mollis emergences I've seen were on the Cortland NY area stream called "Factory Brook" -which is actually the closest thing to a "spring creek" in the area, being mostly groundwater fed. I've seen the spinners too, but never a "fall".
This one came from fairly close to there. I've got some pictures of that creek and a Paralep spinner here:
http://www.troutnut.com/trout-fly-fishing-stream/61/Factory-Brook-New_York-pictures
The spinner doesn't have a species ID yet. Anyone want to take a crack at it?
Jason Neuswanger, Ph.D.
Troutnut and salmonid ecologist
Troutnut and salmonid ecologist
PaulRoberts on Apr 10, 2012April 10th, 2012, 5:58 pm EDT
Jason, I think I know that stretch. The second image is what I called "The Tunnel" and there were some decent fish in there. The first image is just above and I called it "The Montana" for its open skies and meadowed banks lined with spruce.
Entoman on Apr 10, 2012April 10th, 2012, 6:32 pm EDT
Jason -
Based on the pale longitudinal forewing veins (excepting the costals), dark middle terga, and especially the genitalia (Burks '53), your link is P. adoptiva. I moved the specimen and copied this info there without starting a new topic.
Based on the pale longitudinal forewing veins (excepting the costals), dark middle terga, and especially the genitalia (Burks '53), your link is P. adoptiva. I moved the specimen and copied this info there without starting a new topic.
"It's not that I find fishing so important, it's just that I find all other endeavors of Man equally unimportant... And not nearly as much fun!" Robert Traver, Anatomy of a Fisherman
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