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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This is a striking caddis larva with an interesting color pattern on the head. Here are some characteristics I was able to see under the microscope, but could not easily expose for a picture:
- The prosternal horn is present.
- The mandible is clearly toothed, not formed into a uniform scraper blade.
- The seems to be only 2 major setae on the ventral edge of the hind femur.
- Chloride epithelia seem to be absent from the dorsal side of any abdominal segments.
Based on these characteristics and the ones more easily visible from the pictures, this seems to be Grammotaulius. The key's description of the case is spot-on: "Case cylindrical, made of longitudinally arranged sedge or similar leaves," as is the description of the markings on the head, "Dorsum of head light brownish yellow with numerous discrete, small, dark spots." The spot pattern on the head is a very good match to figure 19.312 of Merritt R.W., Cummins, K.W., and Berg, M.B. (2019). The species ID is based on Grammotaulius betteni being the only species of this genus known in Washington state.
- The prosternal horn is present.
- The mandible is clearly toothed, not formed into a uniform scraper blade.
- The seems to be only 2 major setae on the ventral edge of the hind femur.
- Chloride epithelia seem to be absent from the dorsal side of any abdominal segments.
Based on these characteristics and the ones more easily visible from the pictures, this seems to be Grammotaulius. The key's description of the case is spot-on: "Case cylindrical, made of longitudinally arranged sedge or similar leaves," as is the description of the markings on the head, "Dorsum of head light brownish yellow with numerous discrete, small, dark spots." The spot pattern on the head is a very good match to figure 19.312 of Merritt R.W., Cummins, K.W., and Berg, M.B. (2019). The species ID is based on Grammotaulius betteni being the only species of this genus known in Washington state.
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Crepuscular on Feb 21, 2013February 21st, 2013, 1:51 pm EST
The boy and I did a little fishing today after school. I played gillie...
Oldredbarn on Feb 21, 2013February 21st, 2013, 4:16 pm EST
Tell the young man I'm feeling bad...He's already got the skunk out of the boat, and its not even March! :) The only casting uncle Spence has been doing of late was in a gym trying to show newbies how not to break their wrist..."Don't make me tie your wrist to the rod!" :)
You are a good Pop and not a half bad guide...You put him over fish. Nice looking little pool there.
Spence
You are a good Pop and not a half bad guide...You put him over fish. Nice looking little pool there.
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
"Envy not the man who lives beside the river, but the man the river flows through." Joseph T Heywood
Martinlf on Feb 21, 2013February 21st, 2013, 5:53 pm EST
He's a lucky young man, and you a lucky dad.
"He spread them a yard and a half. 'And every one that got away is this big.'"
--Fred Chappell
--Fred Chappell
Oldredbarn on Feb 21, 2013February 21st, 2013, 6:38 pm EST
Yes Louis...I could of used a Pop like Eric when I was plodding along the banks of that little creek near my grandmothers farm when I was about the youngsters same age...The creek is technically the Middle Branch of the (Mighty) Muskegon, but we knew it as Crocker Creek or Beebe Creek...Beebe being my grandmothers maiden name...I was told that the grandfather of the three brothers I ran with in those days, and lived next to the creek, used to mow the banks so the fly fishermen could cast...
I read an article once where the author stated that my little creek probably had more Browns in it than the Pere Marquette...He was trying to make an argument that the lake run salmon and steelies were causing some stress on the resident Browns.
As soon as your toe touched the creek or you busted through the brush, it was all over as far as catching a Brown...The Brookies are absolutely beautiful there...I can remember casting in tunnels of over grown brush on either side of the stream. :) The only river where I ever floated my hat...
Spence
I read an article once where the author stated that my little creek probably had more Browns in it than the Pere Marquette...He was trying to make an argument that the lake run salmon and steelies were causing some stress on the resident Browns.
As soon as your toe touched the creek or you busted through the brush, it was all over as far as catching a Brown...The Brookies are absolutely beautiful there...I can remember casting in tunnels of over grown brush on either side of the stream. :) The only river where I ever floated my hat...
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
"Envy not the man who lives beside the river, but the man the river flows through." Joseph T Heywood
Entoman on Feb 21, 2013February 21st, 2013, 6:49 pm EST
Nice, Eric. That's what it's all about.
"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
Crepuscular on Feb 22, 2013February 22nd, 2013, 2:25 am EST
Thanks Gentlemen. it means a lot!
PaulRoberts on Feb 22, 2013February 22nd, 2013, 2:03 pm EST
Very nice, Eric.
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