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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 Setvena wahkeena (Perlodidae) (Wahkeena Springfly) Stonefly Nymph from Mystery Creek #199 in Washington
As far as I can tell, this species has only previously been reported from one site in Oregon along the Columbia gorge. However, the key characteristics are fairly unmistakable in all except for one minor detail:
— 4 small yellow spots on frons visible in photos
— Narrow occipital spinule row curves forward (but doesn’t quite meet on stem of ecdysial suture, as it's supposed to in this species)
— Short spinules on anterior margin of front legs
— Short rposterior row of blunt spinules on abdominal tergae, rather than elongated spinules dorsally
I caught several of these mature nymphs in the fishless, tiny headwaters of a creek high in the Wenatchee Mountains.
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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Motrout
Motrout's profile picture
Posts: 319
Motrout on May 27, 2011May 27th, 2011, 7:04 am EDT
I grew up in the Northwest corner of Colorado, in a little town called Craig in the Yampa Valley, and after long years of not seeing my home state, finally I am going to get back there this summer, in the second week of August. I wish it could be for longer, but it'll be a weeklong trip, not counting the two day drive each way. I think it will be kind of fun to revisit that country fly rod in hand. When I lived there, I was purely a spin and bait fisherman, and I'm really looking forward to experiencing those waters in a different way by fly fishing them. Here's how the plans are looking right now, although they could change.

2 days fishing the Yampa River for rainbows
2 days up in the mountains of Routt National Forest, fishing one of my old favorite cutthroat lakes
3 days in the Flattop Wilderness, fishing Trappers Lake ( which is a pretty famous trout fishery that I think is okay to name here), and probably hiking in to a certain little mountain lake that sits at 10,000 feet, and at least when I fished there last, held some of very nice native cutthroat.
"I don't know what fly fishing teaches us, but I think it's something we need to know."-John Gierach
http://fishingintheozarks.blogspot.com/
Falsifly
Falsifly's profile picture
Hayward, WI.

Posts: 660
Falsifly on May 27, 2011May 27th, 2011, 9:09 am EDT
I remember fishing the Yampa back in the mid seventies, between Steam Boat and Craig, and the Blue between Dillon and Kremmling. In 72 I spent a month in a campground just outside Steamboat which was right on the Yampa, sweet memories indeed. I’d say your going to have great trip Motrout, and I think both of us would agree it’s a foregone conclusion.
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."
Jmd123
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Oscoda, MI

Posts: 2474
Jmd123 on May 27, 2011May 27th, 2011, 9:45 am EDT
MO, that sounds like a great trip! Best of luck and have fun! Sounds like you'll be in some pretty spectacular scenery too, so if you can, take a camera and show us what it all looks like (including fishies) when you get back.

Jonathon
No matter how big the one you just caught is, there's always a bigger one out there somewhere...
Motrout
Motrout's profile picture
Posts: 319
Motrout on May 27, 2011May 27th, 2011, 9:47 am EDT
I will make sure to post pics. I know I am bad about that as a rule, but for a trip like this I will make sure that I have some good pictures to post.
"I don't know what fly fishing teaches us, but I think it's something we need to know."-John Gierach
http://fishingintheozarks.blogspot.com/

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