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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I was not fishing, but happened to be at an unrelated social event on a hill above this tiny creek (which I never even saw) when this stonefly flew by me. I assume it came from there. Some key characteristics are tricky to follow, but process of elimination ultimately led me to Sweltsa borealis. It is reassuringly similar to this specimen posted by Bob Newell years ago. It is also so strikingly similar to this nymph from the same river system that I'm comfortable identifying that nymph from this adult. I was especially pleased with the closeup photo of four mites parasitizing this one.
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Stokes on Jan 15, 2014January 15th, 2014, 3:15 pm EST
With my new Orvis Access rod.My Clearwater 2 and 5wts are both mid flex as well as my Three Forks 3 wt.So I got the Access in 4wt mid flex.Its a 9ft rod and is way slower than my others.I hadnt tried it yet because of surgery on my left hand.I finally got around to throw some line in the grass.Its gonna take some getting used to,I guess.Feels more like a full flex,not that I ever tried a full flex,but it is so much slower than my other mid flex rods.It is very light,I think its 2 3/8 of an oz with no reel,which is good.
SwitchCaste on Jan 16, 2014January 16th, 2014, 1:46 pm EST
With my new Orvis Access rod.My Clearwater 2 and 5wts are both mid flex as well as my Three Forks 3 wt.So I got the Access in 4wt mid flex.Its a 9ft rod and is way slower than my others.I hadnt tried it yet because of surgery on my left hand.I finally got around to throw some line in the grass.Its gonna take some getting used to,I guess.Feels more like a full flex,not that I ever tried a full flex,but it is so much slower than my other mid flex rods.It is very light,I think its 2 3/8 of an oz with no reel,which is good.
Well this is exactly why I walked away from everything Orvis about three years ago. I'm much happier with my Sage rod. Not to say they're "bad" but I'm over it.
Tossing 'em farther than your father!
Stokes on Jan 16, 2014January 16th, 2014, 1:59 pm EST
I dont "dislike" it,yet.I just gotta get used to it,I guess.I like my other Orvis rods just fine,this has a whole different feel.I'm wondering if they would exchange the rod only,for a tip flex.I bought it as a combo,with an Access reel.
Stokes on Jan 22, 2014January 22nd, 2014, 11:13 am EST
Just got off the phone with the Orvis store I bought this rod from.Asked if they would consider exchanging it for the same rod in the tip-flex.Not a problem,I was told.Considering I've had the rod since Oct '13,I am quite impressed.The salesman even remembered me,because I had a cast on my left arm at the time.I told him I hadnt gotten a chance to cast it till just now because of the surgery on my left hand and he said he remembered selling me the rod.I said I may not have the receipt and he said it doesnt matter.
Kschaefer3 on Jan 22, 2014January 22nd, 2014, 11:56 am EST
Just got off the phone with the Orvis store I bought this rod from.Asked if they would consider exchanging it for the same rod in the tip-flex.Not a problem,I was told.Considering I've had the rod since Oct '13,I am quite impressed.The salesman even remembered me,because I had a cast on my left arm at the time.I told him I hadnt gotten a chance to cast it till just now because of the surgery on my left hand and he said he remembered selling me the rod.I said I may not have the receipt and he said it doesnt matter.
Thanks for the update! I love when companies have great customer service. It is so much for enjoyable to do business with them.
Stokes on Apr 2, 2014April 2nd, 2014, 8:32 am EDT
So I got to try out the Access tip-flex.Much better,but it still feels slower than my 5wt and 3wt mid flexes.It's much lighter than my other rods,maybe that makes it seem slower?
PaulRoberts on Apr 2, 2014April 2nd, 2014, 4:10 pm EDT
I bought a 7-1/2ft Superfine "Trout Bum" 4wt tip-flex a while back, and returned it. Beautiful rod, but not fast enough for my purpose.
I have been out of the loop, but wonder if trends have shifted back toward slower actions?
Also, my past experience has been that, for rods longer than ~8ft, you need very high quality, high modulus graphite to get a rod with adequate rigidity. "Access" sounds like an entry level rod? If you want speed and length, you are probably going to have to pay for it. At least that's the way it used to be (80s and 90s).
I have been out of the loop, but wonder if trends have shifted back toward slower actions?
Also, my past experience has been that, for rods longer than ~8ft, you need very high quality, high modulus graphite to get a rod with adequate rigidity. "Access" sounds like an entry level rod? If you want speed and length, you are probably going to have to pay for it. At least that's the way it used to be (80s and 90s).
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