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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 Neoleptophlebia (Leptophlebiidae) Mayfly Nymph from the Yakima River in Washington
Some characteristics from the microscope images for the tentative species id: The postero-lateral projections are found only on segment 9, not segment 8. Based on the key in Jacobus et al. (2014), it appears to key to Neoleptophlebia adoptiva or Neoleptophlebia heteronea, same as this specimen with pretty different abdominal markings. However, distinguishing between those calls for comparing the lengths of the second and third segment of the labial palp, and this one (like the other one) only seems to have two segments. So I'm stuck on them both. It's likely that the fact that they're immature nymphs stymies identification in some important way.
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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Sayfu
Posts: 560
Sayfu on Aug 25, 2011August 25th, 2011, 5:31 am EDT
Here's a tip that I use that I have never seen anyone else use. I started by using beads at the head of my hook for tying soft hackles. I "apply" the feather on smaller patterns especially rather than wrapping the feather. It becomes easy to size the small hackles, and the bead secures the hackle barbules behind the bead. I use XSM glass beads that look like a bug head, to tungsten beads to sink a soft hackle. But I then began using the XSM glass beads at the head of a dry fly! Has some good advantages. You never crowd the head because you start with the head. Tying off the feather becomes very easy securing it behind the bead. Then I tie off using the double under the thread knot(not knowing the name) a Gary Borger knot for securing off a fly. Head cement doesn't get in the eye of the fly, and it does not contribute to sinking the fly. Adds an attracting feature IMO.
Wbranch
Wbranch's profile picture
York & Starlight PA

Posts: 2635
Wbranch on Apr 4, 2015April 4th, 2015, 1:02 pm EDT
I just stumbled on this thread and find it very interesting not only as possibly a "hot spot" on a dry fly but still after fifty plus years of tying I still sometimes crowd the eye and have a heck of a time getting a 6X tippet through a material clogged eye while on the river and the fish are rising.
Catskill fly fisher for fifty-five years.
Lastchance
Portage, PA

Posts: 437
Lastchance on Apr 5, 2015April 5th, 2015, 5:37 am EDT
I just stumbled on this thread and find it very interestin
g not only as possibly a "hot spot" on a dry fly but still after fifty plus years of tying I still sometimes crowd the eye and have a heck of a time getting a 6X tippet through a material clogged eye while on the river and the fish are rising.



I do the same things after 30 years of tying, ha!

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