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.
Jesse on Aug 15, 2011August 15th, 2011, 9:04 am EDT
Some excellent foam tied hoppers!
Most of us fish our whole lives..not knowing its not the fish that we are after.
http://www.filingoflyfishing.com
http://www.filingoflyfishing.com
Troutnut on Aug 15, 2011August 15th, 2011, 5:10 pm EDT
Very nice! How well do they ride on the water?
Jason Neuswanger, Ph.D.
Troutnut and salmonid ecologist
Troutnut and salmonid ecologist
FredH on Aug 16, 2011August 16th, 2011, 5:02 am EDT
very cool Jesse
Jesse on Aug 16, 2011August 16th, 2011, 6:23 am EDT
Jason they ride great on the water!
Most of us fish our whole lives..not knowing its not the fish that we are after.
http://www.filingoflyfishing.com
http://www.filingoflyfishing.com
Oldredbarn on Aug 16, 2011August 16th, 2011, 12:38 pm EDT
Why am I always the damn contrarian?! When I saw these my first response was, "How do you spell L.U.R.E.?"
You would think that a guy that is a vegetarian since he was 16 would be rather fond of plastic materials as opposed to the "natural" stuff, but I personally would not tie one of these on...I'm not trying to dredge up any old arguments, I understand "to each their own", but there you have it...
In terms of craftiness I suppose they are cute.
Spence
You would think that a guy that is a vegetarian since he was 16 would be rather fond of plastic materials as opposed to the "natural" stuff, but I personally would not tie one of these on...I'm not trying to dredge up any old arguments, I understand "to each their own", but there you have it...
In terms of craftiness I suppose they are cute.
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
Falsifly on Aug 16, 2011August 16th, 2011, 1:04 pm EDT
Careful Spence, lest the locust plague descendith upon you and render you helpless, leaving your only salvation repenting your blasphemous ways.
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 Aug 16, 2011August 16th, 2011, 1:22 pm EDT
Allan...It's just an opinion, blasphemous though it may be...What do I know anyway? The old Au Sable isn't really known as much of a hopper stream...I have no memory of ever tossing one there...Ever! Slough Creek on the other hand...;) The Henry's Fork...I remember arriving at the Harriman Ranch fairly early a couple mornings and you can find them in the grass still a bit too cold to move very fast...I may of had an odd "young boys" curiousity and wanted to see if they could swim...It really wasn't fair and very scientific since they weren't moving so fast to begin with...It's an old trick I learned from the Indians...No I think it was some old "PA Boys"...;) They were chumming with Jap Beetles though...
Spence
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
Jesse on Aug 16, 2011August 16th, 2011, 1:35 pm EDT
FOAM hoppers spence, and if you were on some water where fish loved hoppers, and you were watching me wack them with this pattern more so then normal...i think you might want to try one out ha!
Most of us fish our whole lives..not knowing its not the fish that we are after.
http://www.filingoflyfishing.com
http://www.filingoflyfishing.com
TNEAL on Aug 16, 2011August 16th, 2011, 1:54 pm EDT
The East Branch of Michigan's AuSable used to be prime-time hopper fishing... that's pretty much gone now... the upper AuSable still is pretty good.. browns have replaced what used to be mostly brookies... but the browns are much larger... okay trade-off, I guess...
Oldredbarn on Aug 16, 2011August 16th, 2011, 7:38 pm EDT
FOAM hoppers spence, and if you were on some water where fish loved hoppers, and you were watching me wack them with this pattern more so then normal...i think you might want to try one out ha!
Jess,
You know I'd be getting a kick out of your success and having the chance to share a stream somewhere with you, but some old dogs are stubborn and don't get too rattled when you young whipper-snappers out fish them...:)
I'll have to somehow figure out some way of getting a picture or two of the hoppers I've used up here...I have to remember before I do whether or not its a pattern I've been sworn to secrecy on or not...:)
Tight Lines!
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 Aug 17, 2011August 17th, 2011, 12:34 pm EDT
You know I'd be getting a kick out of your success and having the chance to share a stream somewhere with you, but some old dogs are stubborn and don't get too rattled when you young whipper-snappers out fish them...:)
Nicely put, Spence. These are pretty flies, Jess. I personally wouldn't fish them, but you've certainly attended to making them convincing imitations of the originals, and I'm sure they are great fish catchers.
-Shawn
Jewelry-Quality Artistic Salmon Flies, by Shawn Davis
www.davisflydesigns.com
www.davisflydesigns.com
Jesse on Aug 18, 2011August 18th, 2011, 2:46 pm EDT
Well thanks boys and i can't lie i do have some old letort, parachute, and other more 'old school' custimized hopper patterns that work excellently. But yeah spence maybe next time i head north we'll have to get in touch and do some fishing!
Most of us fish our whole lives..not knowing its not the fish that we are after.
http://www.filingoflyfishing.com
http://www.filingoflyfishing.com
Oldredbarn on Aug 19, 2011August 19th, 2011, 8:54 am EDT
But yeah spence maybe next time i head north we'll have to get in touch and do some fishing!
Jess...You would feel right at home just about anytime during the month of June...Big Bugs (Brown Drake, Iso's, Gray Drakes, and the lovely little Hexagenia...;) Not to mention all the other mayflies, stones, and caddis bouncing about.
If I may Jess I would like to commend you on how you handled my critique of the hoppers above...You take all this stuff, even from the old river-farts, in stride. That's good because I hope you know I didn't mean anything by it and others here would of seen red and retorted with all guns blazing as if I was personally pissing on their wading boots...You seem to have a great disposition and it would be a pleasure to share a beat with you!
Tight Lines Mister!
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
Jesse on Aug 21, 2011August 21st, 2011, 2:52 pm EDT
Spence i must say i surely do appreciate the comments and next time i make my way up north (probably next summer) we'll see what we can do. The Delaware is a river i only fished once and loved and if its not to far a weekend there would be fun stuff. Im leaving for Montana tomorrow morning for my last year of schooling so im pretty excited about that! Western waters here i come!
Most of us fish our whole lives..not knowing its not the fish that we are after.
http://www.filingoflyfishing.com
http://www.filingoflyfishing.com
Shawnny3 on Aug 21, 2011August 21st, 2011, 4:04 pm EDT
If I may Jess I would like to commend you on how you handled my critique of the hoppers above...You take all this stuff, even from the old river-farts, in stride.
Agreed. More than once on this forum I've been impressed with Jessie's attitude (let alone his fish!). You've got to have the right temperament to get along with this group of misfits. Most of us have some strong opinions about things that don't matter to almost anyone else. Or maybe I'm just speaking for me.
-Shawn
Jewelry-Quality Artistic Salmon Flies, by Shawn Davis
www.davisflydesigns.com
www.davisflydesigns.com
Entoman on Aug 22, 2011August 22nd, 2011, 12:45 pm EDT
Shawn -
Well, you are speaking for me also, so that's at least two of us.:)
Jesse -
There are no right or wrong ways to apply materials to a hook, just different ways. However, there are two undebatable requirements of well tied flies - neatness and consistency. You score high on both counts. As the lost Jedi said to Luke, "Your skills are complete." At least with this pattern. :)
Regards,
Kurt
You've got to have the right temperament to get along with this group of misfits. Most of us have some strong opinions about things that don't matter to almost anyone else. Or maybe I'm just speaking for me.
Well, you are speaking for me also, so that's at least two of us.:)
Jesse -
There are no right or wrong ways to apply materials to a hook, just different ways. However, there are two undebatable requirements of well tied flies - neatness and consistency. You score high on both counts. As the lost Jedi said to Luke, "Your skills are complete." At least with this pattern. :)
Regards,
Kurt
"It's not that I find fishing so important, it's just that I find all other endeavors of Man equally unimportant... And not nearly as much fun!" Robert Traver, Anatomy of a Fisherman
Jesse on Aug 25, 2011August 25th, 2011, 9:00 am EDT
Haha oh man, Shawn, Kurt and Spence...I do thank you for your comments its always great to hear that kind of encouragement from fellow flyers!
Most of us fish our whole lives..not knowing its not the fish that we are after.
http://www.filingoflyfishing.com
http://www.filingoflyfishing.com
Anora on Aug 25, 2011August 25th, 2011, 11:09 pm EDT
Jesse,
They are looking very cool...
There way of riding in water is amazing....
They are looking very cool...
There way of riding in water is amazing....
Sayfu
Posts: 560
Posts: 560
Sayfu on Aug 29, 2011August 29th, 2011, 6:39 am EDT
Allow me to be the contrarian on the design. The pattern looks great, and definitely a super looking hopper pattern. However, flies that are tied with materials of substance off the back of the hook bend but for a very short distance, result in missed takes as the trout tends to push them out of the way, and miss the hook. Maybe they take that hopper so well that doesn't happen, dunno.
Jesse on Aug 30, 2011August 30th, 2011, 8:57 pm EDT
Sayfu i don't mean any disrespect on your comment but i can't say i noticed that problem thus far. Most the takes ive had on it have been really aggressive without being pushed away.
Most of us fish our whole lives..not knowing its not the fish that we are after.
http://www.filingoflyfishing.com
http://www.filingoflyfishing.com
Quick Reply
Related Discussions
Topic
Replies
Last Reply
3
Mar 18, 2009
by Andrew
by Andrew
0
Jan 27, 2017
by Mcflyangler
by Mcflyangler