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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This is an interesting one. Following the keys in Merritt R.W., Cummins, K.W., and Berg, M.B. (2019) and Jacobus et al. (2014), it keys clearly to Ephemerella. Jacobus et al provide a key to species, but some of the characteristics are tricky to interpret without illustrations. If I didn't make any mistakes, this one keys to Ephemerella mucronata, which has not previously been reported any closer to here than Montana and Alberta. The main character seems to fit well: "Abdominal terga with prominent, paired, subparallel, spiculate ridges." Several illustrations or descriptions of this holarctic species from the US and Europe seem to match, including the body length, tarsal claws and denticles, labial palp, and gill shapes. These sources include including Richard Allen's original description of this species in North America under the now-defunct name E. moffatae in Allen RK (1977) and the figures in this description of the species in Italy.
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Roguerat on Jul 6, 2014July 6th, 2014, 5:08 pm EDT
The Upper Platte was literally crawling with these nymphs, every substrate sample I kicked-up had dozens. I think it's a Drunella spp., length and 'bicep' front legs are pretty indicative. Any official ID on these?
Roguerat
I Peter 5:7 'Cast your cares upon Him..'
Roguerat
I Peter 5:7 'Cast your cares upon Him..'
Taxon on Jul 6, 2014July 6th, 2014, 7:20 pm EDT
Hi Roguerat-
I believe them to be Drunella doddsii.
I believe them to be Drunella doddsii.
Entoman on Jul 6, 2014July 6th, 2014, 7:38 pm EDT
Very good, Rogue! Yes, those are mature Drunella cornutella (Blue-winged Olive) nymphs. Their size is the key.
"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
Entoman on Jul 6, 2014July 6th, 2014, 7:40 pm EDT
Roger -
I was thinking the same thing until I noticed the mm ruler in one of the photos. Then I remembered Rogue doesn't post about our Rogue... Or our Platte. He's on the other side of the country. He seems to have a penchant for fishing streams back East with the same names as our famous Western ones.
Do you do this just to mess with us, Rogue? How nefarious... :) Lol
I was thinking the same thing until I noticed the mm ruler in one of the photos. Then I remembered Rogue doesn't post about our Rogue... Or our Platte. He's on the other side of the country. He seems to have a penchant for fishing streams back East with the same names as our famous Western ones.
Do you do this just to mess with us, Rogue? How nefarious... :) Lol
"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
Oldredbarn on Jul 6, 2014July 6th, 2014, 8:25 pm EDT
The pics seem a tad dark, but we are closing in on D lata 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
Jmd123 on Jul 6, 2014July 6th, 2014, 8:34 pm EDT
Kurt, he's one of us Michiganders...and we have a Rogue River that is NOT in Oregon! And yes, we have a Platte, too, not to mention about 15 "Pine Rivers"!
;oD
Jonathon
;oD
Jonathon
No matter how big the one you just caught is, there's always a bigger one out there somewhere...
Entoman on Jul 6, 2014July 6th, 2014, 9:41 pm EDT
Certainly possible, Spence. They are also small, though usually not this dark or stout. They are known for this location as well. I'd need a look at the Frontoclypeal projections to know for sure. Notice the single large tubercle on the forefemora? That's not in the diagram for lata that shows multiple tubercles of more or less even length for a more serrated look. Don't know what that means... I do know that angler reports often credit the wrong species. :)
Jon - Yeah, you guys could probably post ID requests from the Madison or Yellowstone, too... Got any Henry's Forks back there? :) LOL
Jon - Yeah, you guys could probably post ID requests from the Madison or Yellowstone, too... Got any Henry's Forks back there? :) LOL
"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
Roguerat on Jul 7, 2014July 7th, 2014, 4:26 am EDT
Hey, guys, don't forget that TU was founded in MICHIGAN...and that the Baldwin River (although it's appearance and flow is closer to a creek, and a smaller one at that...!) was the first trout stream planted with 'German' Brown trout way back when.
Seriously, I just Googled 'River names of Michigan' and apparently we don't have a Madison, Yellowstone, or Henry's Fork. We DO boast the Misery River, Mosquito River, Dead River, Bad River, and some other interesting flows!
Anyway, someday I'll make the trip 'west' and fish waters I've only read about or seen in magazines. Until then, I'll make do with in-state fishing.
Tight Lines!
Roguerat
I Peter 5:7 'Cast your cares upon Him...'
Seriously, I just Googled 'River names of Michigan' and apparently we don't have a Madison, Yellowstone, or Henry's Fork. We DO boast the Misery River, Mosquito River, Dead River, Bad River, and some other interesting flows!
Anyway, someday I'll make the trip 'west' and fish waters I've only read about or seen in magazines. Until then, I'll make do with in-state fishing.
Tight Lines!
Roguerat
I Peter 5:7 'Cast your cares upon Him...'
Entoman on Jul 7, 2014July 7th, 2014, 4:04 pm EDT
Sounds like a plan, Rogue! :)
As for Browns being planted first in MI, there may be some New York boys that would dispute that.;) The truth is the first egg shipments from Germany were actually split between both after the originally planned New Jersey facilities proved unworkable. Who dumped trout where and when from there is murky at best. As for pride of place as the first location for New World Salmo trutta, neither have claim. Both were beaten by Massachusetts several years before, but Mr. Brown Trout wasn't propagated from there. Dr. Behnke wrote an interesting article on this topic in Trout Magazine back in the mid 80's I think.
As for Browns being planted first in MI, there may be some New York boys that would dispute that.;) The truth is the first egg shipments from Germany were actually split between both after the originally planned New Jersey facilities proved unworkable. Who dumped trout where and when from there is murky at best. As for pride of place as the first location for New World Salmo trutta, neither have claim. Both were beaten by Massachusetts several years before, but Mr. Brown Trout wasn't propagated from there. Dr. Behnke wrote an interesting article on this topic in Trout Magazine back in the mid 80's I think.
"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
Oldredbarn on Jul 7, 2014July 7th, 2014, 4:29 pm EDT
I live just a short walk from the old hatchery in Northville Michigan where the first eggs sent to Michigan arrived...I'm sticking to the Pere Marquette...:)
Spence
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
"Envy not the man who lives beside the river, but the man the river flows through." Joseph T Heywood
Feathers5
Posts: 287
Posts: 287
Feathers5 on Jul 8, 2014July 8th, 2014, 5:42 am EDT
I've seen similar bugs in my Pennsylvania streams.
Entoman on Jul 9, 2014July 9th, 2014, 6:10 pm EDT
Hey Bruce,
Yes, the small blue-winged olive cornutella and lata species are also common in your neck of the woods.
Yes, the small blue-winged olive cornutella and lata species are also common in your neck of the woods.
"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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