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.
Featured on the forum
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.
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.
Gutcutter on Aug 21, 2010August 21st, 2010, 3:42 pm EDT
i told you that bruce was a lousy photographer!
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
Shawnny3 on Aug 21, 2010August 21st, 2010, 4:15 pm EDT
Nice story, Tony. At least the first few pics (yours, I presume) were good. Come to think of it, what exactly did Bruce do other than take those lousy photos? About as much as I did, I guess. Do you count a little heckling from the sidelines as participation?
One last question, and then I'm done: Where's the pic of the one that was still rising when we left? That's the one I really wanted to see.
-Shawn
One last question, and then I'm done: Where's the pic of the one that was still rising when we left? That's the one I really wanted to see.
-Shawn
Jewelry-Quality Artistic Salmon Flies, by Shawn Davis
www.davisflydesigns.com
www.davisflydesigns.com
Oldredbarn on Aug 21, 2010August 21st, 2010, 4:32 pm EDT
Tony,
That's a nice, neat, box of bugs there...It looks like anyone of them will work. I like the photo of the egg layer. That camera can take some nice close ups!
Spence
That's a nice, neat, box of bugs there...It looks like anyone of them will work. I like the photo of the egg layer. That camera can take some nice close ups!
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
Gutcutter on Aug 21, 2010August 21st, 2010, 4:48 pm EDT
shawn
why do you think i didn't cast to her? i try to end each outing with a fish on my last cast. i won't say that she is impossible to catch from that spot, but...you know that if i post a picture of that giant rainbow that we stared at for some 20 minutes and from where it was rising - that slow eddie adjacent to the faster current seam it would drive me (and you) nuts. or is that troutnuts?
let me know if you get her.
i've become haunted by that fish and with thoughts such as: what position to cast at her from and how to keep the fly from dragging long enough for her to eat it. and you know she will eat. she is in a spot so challenging that anything that goes in there and doesn't drag will be eaten.
when i get back there in a few weeks we'll attack her together
tony
why do you think i didn't cast to her? i try to end each outing with a fish on my last cast. i won't say that she is impossible to catch from that spot, but...you know that if i post a picture of that giant rainbow that we stared at for some 20 minutes and from where it was rising - that slow eddie adjacent to the faster current seam it would drive me (and you) nuts. or is that troutnuts?
let me know if you get her.
i've become haunted by that fish and with thoughts such as: what position to cast at her from and how to keep the fly from dragging long enough for her to eat it. and you know she will eat. she is in a spot so challenging that anything that goes in there and doesn't drag will be eaten.
when i get back there in a few weeks we'll attack her together
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
Lastchance on Aug 22, 2010August 22nd, 2010, 2:50 am EDT
Shawnny & Gutcutter: I'm beginning to get a bit pissed. Shawnny, I stopped fishing when you came to be polite and discuss the topics of the day with you. Tony, As far as my photography goes it's hard to take pictures of fish that are flopping around in the subjects hands. Those fish were overpowering a man--hard to believe. I will NOT stop fishing anymore to be social. I will NOT stop fishing to take photos of a fish unless it's my own. I...will fish to the risers next time.
Bruce
Bruce
Shawnny3 on Aug 22, 2010August 22nd, 2010, 5:57 am EDT
But you have to admit, Bruce - it was fun to sit in the cheap seats and watch the fish taunt Tony.
-Shawn
-Shawn
Jewelry-Quality Artistic Salmon Flies, by Shawn Davis
www.davisflydesigns.com
www.davisflydesigns.com
Lastchance on Aug 22, 2010August 22nd, 2010, 10:11 am EDT
yep! i had fun.
Quick Reply
Related Discussions
Topic
Replies
Last Reply
6
Aug 21, 2010
by Gutcutter
by Gutcutter
3
May 31, 2016
by Oldredbarn
by Oldredbarn
26
Sep 18, 2010
by Falsifly
by Falsifly