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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 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.
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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Crepuscular
Crepuscular's profile picture
Boiling Springs, PA

Posts: 920
Crepuscular on Feb 23, 2013February 23rd, 2013, 1:38 pm EST
Entoman
Entoman's profile picture
Northern CA & ID

Posts: 2604
Entoman on Feb 23, 2013February 23rd, 2013, 2:49 pm EST
R. fuscula?
"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
Creno
Grants Pass, OR

Posts: 302
Creno on Feb 23, 2013February 23rd, 2013, 5:53 pm EST
Yup - both R. fuscula and its sister species R. formosa have very distinctive, although different head and thoracic color patterns. Real nice pics for a live? specimen.
Oldredbarn
Oldredbarn's profile picture
Novi, MI

Posts: 2600
Oldredbarn on Feb 23, 2013February 23rd, 2013
Real nice pics for a live? specimen.


Yes Dave...Our very own Thomas Ames! It's nice he's no longer "hiding his light under a bushel". Only problem...I just get something worked out, or think I have, and his pics drive me back to the vice and my head is spinning. :) It's not like I'm caught up or anywhere close to it, probably never will be.

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
Crepuscular
Crepuscular's profile picture
Boiling Springs, PA

Posts: 920
Crepuscular on Feb 24, 2013February 24th, 2013, 6:58 am EST
Yes this last series of photos were all of live specimens, although they were dying pretty quickly as I put them into the set up for photographing them. It took this person of polish heritage a little while to figure out that the lighting was making the water very,very warm...
Entoman
Entoman's profile picture
Northern CA & ID

Posts: 2604
Entoman on Feb 24, 2013February 24th, 2013, 1:04 pm EST
No worries, Eric. The replacement bulbs we are now compelled to buy are quite cool.:)
"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

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