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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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GldstrmSam
GldstrmSam's profile picture
Fairbanks, Alaska

Posts: 212
GldstrmSam on Feb 21, 2012February 21st, 2012, 9:00 am EST
I have lately been thinking about making a fly mimicking a school of red water fleas. I was thinking maybe doing something like taking a small hook possibly something around a 16-20, and then take invisible sewing thread or something similar and tie around ten strands of different lengths from 2-3" to it. Then with red thread do little knots on the end of each strand of invisible thread. That is just a starting point I'll start experimenting with this and tell you how it goes.
Any more ideas would be appreciated.

Sam
There is no greater fan of fly fishing than the worm. ~Patrick F. McManus
Entoman
Entoman's profile picture
Northern CA & ID

Posts: 2604
Entoman on Feb 22, 2012February 22nd, 2012, 8:49 am EST
Sounds interesting, Sam. Might be you are on to something for imitating a lot of tiny stuff. The only problem I see is that fish feeding in this way usually just swim through the clouds of critters, filter feeding pretty much like the big whales do. This means your fly has to be in the path as they aren't reacting to individuals. In other words, pretty much happenstance, and I'm not sure the fly you use is all that important. Another problem is hooking... They won't close their mouths and turn down, so even if they swim through your rig, I suppose they'd still be pretty easy to miss.

On the other hand filter feeders often veer off and away from something in the water that clearly stands out as different from what they're feeding on (man, have I experienced that frustration). So as I said, you may be on to something.
"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
GldstrmSam
GldstrmSam's profile picture
Fairbanks, Alaska

Posts: 212
GldstrmSam on Feb 27, 2012February 27th, 2012, 2:07 pm EST
I did tie a couple flies. One using red thread on the end of fine clear thread with nail polish holding it in place, and another using red paint. Both ways are tedious(about 10 min. a fly), but if this works than I'll be so excited. I'll try to post photos soon.
There is no greater fan of fly fishing than the worm. ~Patrick F. McManus
Entoman
Entoman's profile picture
Northern CA & ID

Posts: 2604
Entoman on Feb 27, 2012February 27th, 2012, 4:19 pm EST
It'll be intersting to see what you came up with. BTW - did you see my answer to your "lost thread" post? It fell off the board yesterday.
"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
GldstrmSam
GldstrmSam's profile picture
Fairbanks, Alaska

Posts: 212
GldstrmSam on Mar 3, 2012March 3rd, 2012, 1:15 pm EST
This is probably the most common question asked, but how do you post a photo from a computer folder?
There is no greater fan of fly fishing than the worm. ~Patrick F. McManus
Entoman
Entoman's profile picture
Northern CA & ID

Posts: 2604
Entoman on Mar 3, 2012March 3rd, 2012, 5:54 pm EST
Hi Sam,

Open up a free Photobucket account and follow the instructions. Once you have your pictures loaded into an album, below each one there will be a box titled IMG code. Highlight the string in it and right click to copy and paste it between bracketed {link} and {/link} (only use square brackets) in the body of your post. That should do it (note: Some guys have had to change the IMG in the string to lower case after pasting it to make it work, but I haven't had that problem).

Hope that helps... Check back if you continue to have problems.
"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

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