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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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Troutnut
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Bellevue, WA

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Troutnut on Feb 3, 2010February 3rd, 2010, 6:57 am EST
Here's the next picture in the Name That Spot series, from northwest Wisconsin:



(Link to full-size)
Jason Neuswanger, Ph.D.
Troutnut and salmonid ecologist
Falsifly
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Hayward, WI.

Posts: 660
Falsifly on Feb 3, 2010February 3rd, 2010, 7:21 am EST
Falsifly here, not a clue.
Falsifly
When asked what I just caught that monster on I showed him. He put on his magnifiers and said, "I can't believe they can see that."
Wiflyfisher
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Wisconsin

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Wiflyfisher on Feb 3, 2010February 3rd, 2010, 7:43 am EST
Jason, isn't that one of yuor favorite spots on "our" river?
Falsifly
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Hayward, WI.

Posts: 660
Falsifly on Feb 3, 2010February 3rd, 2010, 9:04 am EST
After reexamination I think I do know this spot. Weather permitting, I may take a drive up this weekend with camera in hand.
Falsifly
When asked what I just caught that monster on I showed him. He put on his magnifiers and said, "I can't believe they can see that."
Troutnut
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Bellevue, WA

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Troutnut on Feb 3, 2010February 3rd, 2010, 11:16 am EST
It's not one of my favorite spots. In fact, I don't think I've ever caught a fish at the specific location in the picture, but I've caught plenty in that general reach of the river.
Jason Neuswanger, Ph.D.
Troutnut and salmonid ecologist
Wiflyfisher
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Wisconsin

Posts: 622
Wiflyfisher on Feb 3, 2010February 3rd, 2010, 1:50 pm EST
Jason, I am thinking of downstream from that, about 2 or 3 bends below that. There is a bridge just above that tree about 50 yards if that is the tree I am thinking of.
Falsifly
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Hayward, WI.

Posts: 660
Falsifly on Feb 3, 2010February 3rd, 2010, 2:35 pm EST
John, if your last post is correct, then I guess I can stay home this weekend.
Falsifly
When asked what I just caught that monster on I showed him. He put on his magnifiers and said, "I can't believe they can see that."
Troutnut
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Bellevue, WA

Posts: 2758
Troutnut on Feb 3, 2010February 3rd, 2010, 4:51 pm EST
I think you guys got it. This picture was taken from the bridge, in the middle of the night, at that tree backlit by the moonlight.
Jason Neuswanger, Ph.D.
Troutnut and salmonid ecologist
Oldredbarn
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Novi, MI

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Oldredbarn on Feb 4, 2010February 4th, 2010, 2:16 am EST
Jason,

Pretty creative photo!

Spence
"Even when my best efforts fail it's a satisfying challenge, and that, after all, is the essence of fly fishing." -Chauncy Lively

"Envy not the man who lives beside the river, but the man the river flows through." Joseph T Heywood

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