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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It's only barely visible in one of my pictures, but I confirmed under the microscope that this one has a prosternal horn and the antennae are mid-way between the eyes and front of the head capsule.
I'm calling this one Pycnopsyche, but it's a bit perplexing. It seems to key definitively to at least Couplet 8 of the Key to Genera of Limnephilidae Larvae. That narrows it down to three genera, and the case seems wrong for the other two. The case looks right for Pycnopsyche, and it fits one of the key characteristics: "Abdominal sternum II without chloride epithelium and abdominal segment IX with only single seta on each side of dorsal sclerite." However, the characteristic "metanotal sa1 sclerites not fused, although often contiguous" does not seem to fit well. Those sclerites sure look fused to me, although I can make out a thin groove in the touching halves in the anterior half under the microscope. Perhaps this is a regional variation.
The only species of Pycnopsyche documented in Washington state is Pycnopsyche guttifera, and the colors and markings around the head of this specimen seem to match very well a specimen of that species from Massachusetts on Bugguide. So I am placing it in that species for now.
Whatever species this is, I photographed another specimen of seemingly the same species from the same spot a couple months later.
I'm calling this one Pycnopsyche, but it's a bit perplexing. It seems to key definitively to at least Couplet 8 of the Key to Genera of Limnephilidae Larvae. That narrows it down to three genera, and the case seems wrong for the other two. The case looks right for Pycnopsyche, and it fits one of the key characteristics: "Abdominal sternum II without chloride epithelium and abdominal segment IX with only single seta on each side of dorsal sclerite." However, the characteristic "metanotal sa1 sclerites not fused, although often contiguous" does not seem to fit well. Those sclerites sure look fused to me, although I can make out a thin groove in the touching halves in the anterior half under the microscope. Perhaps this is a regional variation.
The only species of Pycnopsyche documented in Washington state is Pycnopsyche guttifera, and the colors and markings around the head of this specimen seem to match very well a specimen of that species from Massachusetts on Bugguide. So I am placing it in that species for now.
Whatever species this is, I photographed another specimen of seemingly the same species from the same spot a couple months later.
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Oldredbarn on Apr 22, 2013April 22nd, 2013, 11:16 am EDT
I just got off the phone with a good friend of ours here at Troutnut, Mark Libertone. I was concerned because I had noticed that his link to his flies he had listed here no longer worked.
To remind everyone: Back in July 2011 Mark was diagnosed with colorectal cancer and has been fighting it ever since. He has gone through the standard chemotherapy regimen that is proscribed. He has made many trips to the VA hosipital in Buffalo for treatments etc.
Back in Jan-Feb he told me he was going to NYC to look in to an experimental pump that he had researched. He visited NYC's Sloan-Kettering and was about to have the pump installed and some of the cancerous portions of his liver removed when he started to feel some pain in his hips which felt like a pinched nerve.
After further tests it was discovered that the cancer had metastazied in to the bone in his hips and the surgery was called off. He was told to head home and continue with the chemotherapy program he has been on since July 2011.
Mark told me today that he has had discussions with his family and has decided to halt his treatments. He and his family have contacted hospice and arrangements have been made to help him with pain etc. His last chemo treatment was in January of this year.
I asked him if it was ok for me to post this update and he was fine with it. He sounds good, strong actually, and I told him that I would inform all of you so that our thoughts and prayers could be directed to Mark and his family. He has a very close-knit, loving family, and they are watching over him. His son Mark Jr has my number. If it will only warm up a bit, his son plans on taking him down to his beloved Genesee River to soak up some sun and maybe see a fish or two rise.
I told him to feel free to call me. We discussed my trip to PA and my heading out west in August, and told him he would of been proud of those Pennsylvania Boys from Troutnut. He was happy to hear we fished hard and had some fair hatches, but seemed most pleased with our comeraderie. Mark has a good friend that runs a shop on the Madison and I told him I would stop in for a visit in August.
Spence
Mark gave me another web page where some of his flies are posted, Fly Tyer Forum and his flies are still on Hans Weilenmann's web site as well.
To remind everyone: Back in July 2011 Mark was diagnosed with colorectal cancer and has been fighting it ever since. He has gone through the standard chemotherapy regimen that is proscribed. He has made many trips to the VA hosipital in Buffalo for treatments etc.
Back in Jan-Feb he told me he was going to NYC to look in to an experimental pump that he had researched. He visited NYC's Sloan-Kettering and was about to have the pump installed and some of the cancerous portions of his liver removed when he started to feel some pain in his hips which felt like a pinched nerve.
After further tests it was discovered that the cancer had metastazied in to the bone in his hips and the surgery was called off. He was told to head home and continue with the chemotherapy program he has been on since July 2011.
Mark told me today that he has had discussions with his family and has decided to halt his treatments. He and his family have contacted hospice and arrangements have been made to help him with pain etc. His last chemo treatment was in January of this year.
I asked him if it was ok for me to post this update and he was fine with it. He sounds good, strong actually, and I told him that I would inform all of you so that our thoughts and prayers could be directed to Mark and his family. He has a very close-knit, loving family, and they are watching over him. His son Mark Jr has my number. If it will only warm up a bit, his son plans on taking him down to his beloved Genesee River to soak up some sun and maybe see a fish or two rise.
I told him to feel free to call me. We discussed my trip to PA and my heading out west in August, and told him he would of been proud of those Pennsylvania Boys from Troutnut. He was happy to hear we fished hard and had some fair hatches, but seemed most pleased with our comeraderie. Mark has a good friend that runs a shop on the Madison and I told him I would stop in for a visit in August.
Spence
Mark gave me another web page where some of his flies are posted, Fly Tyer Forum and his flies are still on Hans Weilenmann's web site as well.
"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 Apr 22, 2013April 22nd, 2013, 11:22 am EDT
Thank you, Spence. Your report saddens me, but I am happy to know Mark has such strong support from good friends and family. He will certainly be in my thoughts and prayers.
"He spread them a yard and a half. 'And every one that got away is this big.'"
--Fred Chappell
--Fred Chappell
Softhackle on Apr 22, 2013April 22nd, 2013, 11:47 am EDT
Thanks, Spence for updating everyone. Here is a link to the fly tying forum. Some of my flies are in the fly pattern database.
http://www.flytyingforum.com/
Mark
http://www.flytyingforum.com/
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
Entoman on Apr 22, 2013April 22nd, 2013, 12:26 pm EDT
Thank you, Spence. Your report saddens me, but I am happy to know Mark has such strong support from good friends and family. He will certainly be in my thoughts and prayers.
Yes.
"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
Adirman on Apr 22, 2013April 22nd, 2013, 2:27 pm EDT
I am sad to hear that and wish you well.
Lastchance on Apr 22, 2013April 22nd, 2013, 3:01 pm EDT
Hey Mark. My prayers and thoughts are with you.
Bruce
Bruce
Oldredbarn on Apr 22, 2013April 22nd, 2013, 3:57 pm EDT
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vyu6x792rT4
Just thought I'd re-post this one from our famous "brother-of-the-angle" Mark Libertone...;) This was when he went international.
A little beauty for the upcoming sulpher time.
Just thought I'd re-post this one from our famous "brother-of-the-angle" Mark Libertone...;) This was when he went international.
A little beauty for the upcoming sulpher time.
"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
JOHNW on Apr 22, 2013April 22nd, 2013, 4:02 pm EDT
Regards Mark.
"old habits are hard to kill once you have gray in your beard" -Old Red Barn
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