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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Epeorus albertae (Pink Lady) Mayfly Nymph Epeorus albertae (Pink Lady) Mayfly Nymph

Dorsal view of a Epeorus albertae (Heptageniidae) (Pink Lady) Mayfly Nymph from the East Fork Issaquah Creek in Washington

This specimen keys to the Epeorus albertae group of species. Of the five species in that group, the two known in Washington state are Epeorus albertae and Epeorus dulciana. Of the two, albertae has been collected in vastly more locations in Washington than dulciana, suggesting it is far more common. On that basis alone I'm tentatively putting this nymph in albertae, with the large caveat that there's no real information to rule out dulciana.

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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.

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Drifting Drunella Underwater

PaulRoberts

Colorado

Posts: 1776

PaulRoberts on Feb 23, 2013February 23rd, 2013, 12:58 pm EST

Drunella drifting with current:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3h9elSPDRQs
Shows nymphs pretty much out of control, probably resting between swimming bouts. A follow up to previous discussions about fly drift posture.

Crepuscular

Boiling Springs, PA

Posts: 920

Crepuscular on Feb 23, 2013February 23rd, 2013, 1:45 pm EST

Cool video. Thanks for posting the link.

Eric

Entoman

Northern CA & ID

Posts: 2604

Entoman on Feb 23, 2013February 23rd, 2013, 2:37 pm EST

Excellent, Paul. Sure confirms why some designs that can't help but drift upside down still work so well and that getting too anal about nymph orientation when fished dead drift is probably unnecessary. Also dispels the myth that nymphs are either drifting along the bottom or at the surface. This isn't specific, either. I've noticed the same behavior with other mayflies, stones, and caddis as well. Ever notice the odd baetid every now and then attached to the meniscus upside down when they hatch? My guess is that's the source of a lot of cripples. Great stuff, thanks!

"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