Tiny Baetis mayflies are perhaps the most commonly encountered and imitated by anglers on all American trout streams due to their great abundance, widespread distribution, and trout-friendly emergence habits.
This one was surprisingly straightforward to identify. The lack of a sclerite at the base of the lateral hump narrows the field quite a bit, and the other options followed fairly obvious characteristics to Clostoeca, which only has one species, Clostoeca disjuncta.
I've been on a real bender tying emergers and cripples for the past couple weeks, sort of filling in the gap between the nymphs and duns in my fly-boxes.
In lieu of 'real' cripple hooks I'm bending ex-fine, ex-long dry-fly hooks since they're more easily bent and the length accommodates a trailing shuck.
If I ever figure out how to send some pics (have to enlist my college-age girls on this one...they're waaaay more tech-savvy) I'll do so, along with a shot or two of any fish caught on these patterns. Until then, I'm at the bench since it's in the 40's and drizzling- like it's been for the past week.
Bending a light wire dry fly hook could weaken the integrity of the heat treatment and cause a break when you hook that 20" trout. I have a large number of #10 - #14 offset point light wire hooks. If you send me your address I'll sent you an assortment.
Roguerat on May 3, 2014May 3rd, 2014, 12:19 pm EDT
Matt-
the last 20" Brown I hooked- and landed- was also one of my first fly-caught trout, back in '87 on the Coldwater River here in MI. Lots of 16" +/- and LOTS of 'planters' since then, though.
I was worried about breakage, but thought the 'spring' in the hook shank would make up for any issues- never considered that they'd be tempered, though. I appreciate your offer, I'll pm you my address!