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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Ephemerella mucronata Mayfly Nymph Ephemerella mucronata Mayfly Nymph

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.

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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.

Need help..

Nightangler
Branson Missouri

Posts: 1

Nightangler on Sep 15, 2006September 15th, 2006, 6:04 am EDT

First off...

Very nice site Jason!!

next...

I would like alittle thinking of a good night time pattern for the White Miller (Nectopsyche albida )... I seen a few hatching... and the fish are hitting on white woollies buggers... I think if I got closer to the fly itself.. Id pick up alot more fish...

Any thoughts on a fly to tye??

GONZO
Site Editor
"Bear Swamp," PA

Posts: 1681

GONZO on Sep 16, 2006September 16th, 2006, 9:29 am EDT

Here are a few simple flies you might try--

For active (skittering) adults: Try a white Elk-Hair Caddis, (+/-) #14. If you are tying your own, you might want to add a very pale green body and a light ginger or cream hackle under the light elk- or deer-hair wing.

For spent (flush in the film) adults: Use the same pattern minus the palmered hackle (or just fish the above fly untreated and soggy).

For submerged (drowned or diving) adults: The classic White Miller wet fly works (but add a pale green body if tying your own).

For emerging pupa: You probably won't find a commercial pattern to match the pupa; so tie a soft-hackle style with a pale green (or cream) body ribbed with pearl Krystal Flash, a tan shoulder (thorax) and a collar of the palest partridge you can find.

Good Luck!