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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Report at a Glance
| General Region | Yorkshire, England |
| Specific Location | Summer Bridge and Masham |
| Dates Fished | 11/15-16 |
| Fish Caught | grayling and a couple of wild brown trout |
| Conditions & Hatches | November: temps 45-50, cloudy, cold, and a little windy with some sun, rivers a little high from rain three days before, water "peat-stained" but clear. hatches surprisingly continuous, small olives and some caddis as well as some unexpected yellow mayflies. first day many rises, second day only a very few. |
Details and Discussion
CaseyP on Nov 19, 2012November 19th, 2012, 3:21 pm EST
added two rivers to my Yorkshire life list: Ure and Nidd. trout season was over so we were after grayling. they seem to live in the bits of the river that the trout don't: quieter water at the tails of pools and the end of riffles, mostly. they like nymphs down on the bottom, but they can be caught with dries as well.
if you would like the name of the guide and a link to his really great web-site, shoot me a PM.
if you would like the name of the guide and a link to his really great web-site, shoot me a PM.
"You can observe a lot by watching." Yogi Berra
Softhackle on Nov 20, 2012November 20th, 2012, 7:22 am EST
Casey,
Great photos. I'd love to go there, someday!
Mark
Great photos. I'd love to go there, someday!
Mark
"I have the highest respect for the skilled wet-fly fisherman, as he has mastered an art of very great difficulty." Edward R. Hewitt
Flymphs, Soft-hackles and Spiders: http://www.troutnut.com/libstudio/FS&S/index.html
Flymphs, Soft-hackles and Spiders: http://www.troutnut.com/libstudio/FS&S/index.html
Jmd123 on Nov 26, 2012November 26th, 2012, 10:09 am EST
Wow, that looks like a fun trip! Some "natives" there, back in the "Old Country"!
Jonathon
Jonathon
No matter how big the one you just caught is, there's always a bigger one out there somewhere...
Martinlf on Nov 26, 2012November 26th, 2012, 4:50 pm EST
Beautiful fish, Casey. Thank you for sharing these photos!
"He spread them a yard and a half. 'And every one that got away is this big.'"
--Fred Chappell
--Fred Chappell
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