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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 Ephemerella mucronata (Ephemerellidae) Mayfly Nymph from the Yakima River in Washington
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.
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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Report at a Glance

General RegionW MI
Specific LocationRogue River, above Summit
Dates FishedMonday May 28th 2012
Time of Day6:30 am
Fish Caughtone hatchery rainbow...but it was still FUN!!
Conditions & Hatches65 degrees, partly cloudy, water clear and in mid-50's. Small (18-20's) Sulphurs were dapping on the surface, no other insects observed. Lots of rises, some jumpers.

Details and Discussion

Roguerat
Roguerat's profile picture
Posts: 456
Roguerat on May 30, 2012May 30th, 2012, 11:01 am EDT
I was up and running @ 5 am on Monday, on the water by 6:30. This was the shake-down voyage for bamboo resto-rod (not really restored, but refurbished with new components and finish...refurbo-rod?). Semantics aside, I had a ball getting used to the rythyms of a bamboo rod- distinct and more relaxed than my point-and-shoot graphites. Lots of rise-rings and a few 'leapers' all morning, alas I only hooked one willing rainbow of about 8"...but a ton of fun using a rod nearly 65 years old brought back to life, and in it's 3rd generation of the family!

The Roguerat

I Peter 5:7 'Cast your cares upon Him...'

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