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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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.
— 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.
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FisherOfMen on Mar 22, 2012March 22nd, 2012, 5:52 am EDT
Hey guys its ice-out in my lake, I've been watching the darned thing all month - and this might be the earliest ice-out ever!
Anyway so I'm wanting to hit the rainbows, but I'm not sure where they're holding this time of year.
Star Lake is spring-fed, no inlet, just under 300 acres. I've heard that they're both really shallow and really deep, so someone's mistaken. Any hard evidence?
By the way, don't shoot me but if they're deep I'm going to "Lake Clear and Crawl" for 'em. But can you blame me? Stream season doesn't open for another 11 days!
Anyway so I'm wanting to hit the rainbows, but I'm not sure where they're holding this time of year.
Star Lake is spring-fed, no inlet, just under 300 acres. I've heard that they're both really shallow and really deep, so someone's mistaken. Any hard evidence?
By the way, don't shoot me but if they're deep I'm going to "Lake Clear and Crawl" for 'em. But can you blame me? Stream season doesn't open for another 11 days!
"Nothing makes a fish bigger than almost being caught." -Author Unknown
All that is necessary for the triumph of evil is that good men do nothing. -Edmund Burke
All that is necessary for the triumph of evil is that good men do nothing. -Edmund Burke
Entoman on Mar 22, 2012March 22nd, 2012, 9:01 am EDT
Three hundred acres is big enough to experience turnover provided it has enough depth. Until that begins (usually a week or two after ice out) the fish will all be on top with the warmer oxygenated water, either in the shallows chasing invertebrates and minnows or out in open water chasing pelagic baitfish like smelt. They can also be found near the mouths of feeders (if there's any inlets) feeding on insect drift or feeding on baitfish staging for their spawning runs.
Once turnover begins, the water can get roily (this can hurt fishing if it gets really turbid) and the lake's temps begin to even out regardless of depth. That's when fish can be anywhere in the water column. The trade off is caddis & midge larvae are swept up and made available in the upwellings so the fish can feed like crazy. This year, it sounds like the thermocline will establish early. It will be important to pay attention to this stratification once it has become established.
Once turnover begins, the water can get roily (this can hurt fishing if it gets really turbid) and the lake's temps begin to even out regardless of depth. That's when fish can be anywhere in the water column. The trade off is caddis & midge larvae are swept up and made available in the upwellings so the fish can feed like crazy. This year, it sounds like the thermocline will establish early. It will be important to pay attention to this stratification once it has become established.
"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
FisherOfMen on Mar 24, 2012March 24th, 2012, 4:30 pm EDT
Thanks! -I've spent two days trying everything everywhere with no success, maybe my luck will be better after this cold front moves out:)
"Nothing makes a fish bigger than almost being caught." -Author Unknown
All that is necessary for the triumph of evil is that good men do nothing. -Edmund Burke
All that is necessary for the triumph of evil is that good men do nothing. -Edmund Burke
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