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.

Stream photos

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Isoperla (Stripetails and Yellow Stones) Stonefly Adult Isoperla (Stripetails and Yellow Stones) Stonefly Adult

Dorsal view of a Isoperla (Perlodidae) (Stripetails and Yellow Stones) Stonefly Adult from Mystery Creek #308 in Washington

9 Recently Added Photos

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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My First Hendrickson Hatch

Male Ephemerella subvaria (Hendrickson) Mayfly Dun

9 Pictures

Lateral view of a Male Ephemerella subvaria (Ephemerellidae) (Hendrickson) Mayfly Dun from the Beaverkill River in New York

I collected this male Hendrickson dun and a female in the pool on the Beaverkill where the popular Hendrickson pattern was first created. He is descended from mayfly royalty.

Collected April 18, 2006 from the Beaverkill River in New York

Added by Troutnut on April 21, 2006

Collected April 18, 2006 from the Beaverkill River in New York and added by Troutnut on April 21, 2006

MarkP
Cary, Il.

Posts: 4

MarkP on May 19, 2012May 19th, 2012, 5:32 pm EDT

Got to experience my first hatch of these flies on a stream where they aren't listed as having them present. Didn't last too long. Took place at 9:30 am and lasted about 30 minutes. Fish didn't rise to them during the hatch but I couldn't keep them off of a #18 BWO later in the day.

I love fly fishing and fly tying more than a fat kid likes cake...

Entoman

Northern CA & ID

Posts: 2604

Entoman on May 22, 2012May 22nd, 2012, 11:45 am EDT

Welcome back to the forum, Mark!

Assuming your comment that this hatch isn't listed is based on angling sources and not scientific lit, your observations may point out the reason. It's my experience that there are often dozens of mayfly species on any given river that go unreported on angler "Hatch Charts", simply because they never seem to offer obvious angling opportunities. From time to time, though...:)

"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