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.
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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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Konchu on Mar 1, 2012March 1st, 2012, 4:40 am EST
Here's a Discovery article about a wild trout with two heads , found in Idaho. It might be linked to selenium pollution from a mine there. Thought this might be of interest.
Oldredbarn on Mar 1, 2012March 1st, 2012, 6:08 am EST
Sobering stuff Luke! We went through this before in the east with the coal mines and native brookies...We treat fresh water, something we all need, in such a reckless manner.
I had a poli-sci professor in the 70's who used to talk about our "toilet bowl" mentality...He would say, "As long as it can be flushed away, down the drain, and away from us, we really don't give a damn it's effects for those downstream of us. It's no longer our problem."
Spence
I had a poli-sci professor in the 70's who used to talk about our "toilet bowl" mentality...He would say, "As long as it can be flushed away, down the drain, and away from us, we really don't give a damn it's effects for those downstream of us. It's no longer our problem."
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
Konchu on Mar 1, 2012March 1st, 2012, 7:10 am EST
Trouble is, and most people don't think about it, most of our drains are connected to someone else's faucet!
Entoman on Mar 1, 2012March 1st, 2012, 11:14 am EST
By that logic, so are our toilets. Hmmm... Glad I live "upstream"! :)LOL
"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 Mar 4, 2012March 4th, 2012, 8:59 pm EST
It truly is sad how we treat our water.. BLUE gold is the most prominent resource, i just hope it will always be around in a pure form!
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
GldstrmSam on Mar 5, 2012March 5th, 2012, 8:56 am EST
It might be linked to selenium pollution from a mine there.
Selenium. Interesting. Up here we have so much selenium deficiency that I have to give selenium shots to my goats.
I am a strong supporter of mining, but still if you are going to mine then do it safely.
There is no greater fan of fly fishing than the worm. ~Patrick F. McManus
Konchu on Mar 5, 2012March 5th, 2012, 2:15 pm EST
Notice I said "might." Some of these oddities occur for many other reasons. Often people find one unusual morph and draw unnecessary conclusions. Coincidence in time and space does not necessarily indicate a cause. On the other hand, it may very well be connected.
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