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.

Cedar sweepers line the fertile spring creek headwaters of a famous trout stream.

From the Bois Brule River in Wisconsin

Stream photos

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Glossosoma (Little Brown Short-horned Sedge) Caddisfly Larva Glossosoma (Little Brown Short-horned Sedge) Caddisfly Larva

Dorsal view of a Glossosoma (Glossosomatidae) (Little Brown Short-horned Sedge) Caddisfly Larva from the Yakima River in Washington

I caught this tiny larva without a case, but it seems to key pretty clearly to to Glossosomatidae. From there, the lack of sclerites on the mesonotum points to either Glossosoma or Anagapetus. Although it's difficult to see in a 2D image from the microscope, it's pretty clear in the live 3D view that the pronotum is only excised about 1/3 of its length to accommodate the forecoxa, not 2/3, which points to Glossosoma at Couplet 5 of the Key to Genera of Glossosomatidae Larvae.

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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.

Troutnut is a project started in 2003 by salmonid ecologist Jason "Troutnut" Neuswanger to help anglers and fly tyers unabashedly embrace the entomological side of the sport. Learn more about Troutnut or support the project for an enhanced experience here.

Holiday Tieing

DUBBN

Colorado

Posts: 47

DUBBN on Dec 24, 2012December 24th, 2012, 12:50 am EST

Four days off for the Holiday left me time to BBQ ribs and start filling my fly Boxes. The first three patterns I will be using on a local Tailwater (Frying Pan) this morning. The rest will be used in a few weeks/Month.

It's OK to disagree with me. I can not force you to be right.

Kschaefer3

St. Paul, MN

Posts: 376

Kschaefer3 on Dec 24, 2012December 24th, 2012, 4:17 am EST

Very nice flies! What sizes are they? Good luck fishing, let us know how it goes.

DUBBN

Colorado

Posts: 47

DUBBN on Dec 24, 2012December 24th, 2012, 1:35 pm EST

The top two flies are 20, and 22 I did very well with them today. The rest are 14's and 10's I wont use them too much till Spring

I had alot of fun today.

It's OK to disagree with me. I can not force you to be right.

Oldredbarn

Novi, MI

Posts: 2600

Oldredbarn on Dec 24, 2012December 24th, 2012, 7:19 pm EST

Hey fella you are breaking my heart here! :) That Bow looks sweet.

You need to pass on some recipes...I'm curious, what are you using on those abdomens on those last three flies?

The river looks good...We just finally got a couple inches of snow this evening to make it look like Christmas and the temp dropped a bit.

You can PM me if you wish to save some secrets...:)

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

DUBBN

Colorado

Posts: 47

DUBBN on Dec 25, 2012December 25th, 2012, 3:00 am EST

Spence, no secrets. The abdomens are Midge Tubing with wire or Krystalflash inserted as a core. I really doubt that this technique makes a bit of difference to the fish, but I enjoy using it. Ribbing the abdomen with wire after midge tubing has been applied would work just as well.

It's a technique that works well for me on patterns as small as 22 and 24's aswell