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 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.
- 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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Wbranch on Mar 4, 2010March 4th, 2010, 6:34 pm EST
I ran across this video yesterday while looking at some FF blogs. The video and audio is superb. It's about mousing for big trout. It looks like it might be on the South island of NZ.
http://www.midcurrent.com/video/clips/bluemoon.aspx
http://www.midcurrent.com/video/clips/bluemoon.aspx
Catskill fly fisher for fifty-five years.
Ericd on Mar 5, 2010March 5th, 2010, 4:29 am EST
I watched that a few weeks ago. Another book reference: Reminds me of The Snowfly, also by Joseph Heywood.
Falsifly on Mar 5, 2010March 5th, 2010, 5:02 am EST
Hey Matt,
Got any more goodies for us?
Got any more goodies for us?
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."
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."
Oldredbarn on Mar 5, 2010March 5th, 2010, 5:51 am EST
Matt,
Great video...But what an interesting vise! I have never seen one like that.
Spence
Great video...But what an interesting vise! I have never seen one like that.
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
"Envy not the man who lives beside the river, but the man the river flows through." Joseph T Heywood
Shawnny3 on Mar 5, 2010March 5th, 2010, 7:22 am EST
Sweet, Matt. I've tied up some mouse flies that have been killers on largemouth bass (my bleeding mouse bringing me my biggest bass ever), and I've heard of people night-fishing with them for big trout, but I've never actually seen it done before. Pretty exhilarating. Thanks for sharing.
-Shawn
-Shawn
Jewelry-Quality Artistic Salmon Flies, by Shawn Davis
www.davisflydesigns.com
www.davisflydesigns.com
Wbranch on Mar 5, 2010March 5th, 2010, 9:32 am EST
If I find any other over the top quality videos I'll pass them along.
It was awesome to watch the cast, as he did cover the fish nicely, then see that big mouse floating alonf and all of a sudden that big mouth sucked it in! It shocked me and I let out a yell from the sheer surprise.
It was awesome to watch the cast, as he did cover the fish nicely, then see that big mouse floating alonf and all of a sudden that big mouth sucked it in! It shocked me and I let out a yell from the sheer surprise.
Catskill fly fisher for fifty-five years.
Oldredbarn on Mar 14, 2010March 14th, 2010, 3:27 pm EDT
Matt,
We had our Fly Fishing Expo this last weekend. Joe Humpreys was there and one of his seminars I sat thru was on Brook Trout. He had film of him fishing in Labrador for monster Brooks and he was using a lemming fly. It was awesome!
Spence
We had our Fly Fishing Expo this last weekend. Joe Humpreys was there and one of his seminars I sat thru was on Brook Trout. He had film of him fishing in Labrador for monster Brooks and he was using a lemming fly. It was awesome!
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
"Envy not the man who lives beside the river, but the man the river flows through." Joseph T Heywood
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