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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As far as I can tell, this species has only previously been reported from one site in Oregon along the Columbia gorge. However, the key characteristics are fairly unmistakable in all except for one minor detail:
— 4 small yellow spots on frons visible in photos
— Narrow occipital spinule row curves forward (but doesn’t quite meet on stem of ecdysial suture, as it's supposed to in this species)
— Short spinules on anterior margin of front legs
— Short rposterior row of blunt spinules on abdominal tergae, rather than elongated spinules dorsally
I caught several of these mature nymphs in the fishless, tiny headwaters of a creek high in the Wenatchee Mountains.
— 4 small yellow spots on frons visible in photos
— Narrow occipital spinule row curves forward (but doesn’t quite meet on stem of ecdysial suture, as it's supposed to in this species)
— Short spinules on anterior margin of front legs
— Short rposterior row of blunt spinules on abdominal tergae, rather than elongated spinules dorsally
I caught several of these mature nymphs in the fishless, tiny headwaters of a creek high in the Wenatchee Mountains.
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Report at a Glance
| General Region | white pass wa |
| Specific Location | knuppenberg lake |
| Dates Fished | august 1 2014 |
| Time of Day | 10:00 |
| Fish Caught | cutthroat trout |
| Conditions & Hatches | calm, sunny |
Details and Discussion
Gcoder28 on Aug 1, 2014August 1st, 2014, 12:55 pm EDT
Today I went to Knuppenberg Lake with my Cortland 9' fly rod and a carpenter ant fly. I was wearing boots so I waded out far enough to cast where all of the surfacing fish were. I made long casts right in the fishes rising ring. I forgot to mention that I was using 3 foot leader also. Anyway, a couple of minutes later I caught a beautiful 15" cutthroat. I released it hoping the trout will grow bigger. I soon caught others. The water is so clear, you can see all the fish with in 20 feet of you. Awesome lake to fly fish and to throw in a worm and a bobber. Its right off HWY 12 before White pass. I highly recommend it.
Taxon on Aug 1, 2014August 1st, 2014, 1:59 pm EDT
Hi Gabe-
Welcome to the Troutnut forum. And, glad you outing to Knuppenburg Lake was productive. Incidentally, according to the latest WDFW stocking report, that lake is planted with Brown Trout.
Best regards,
Welcome to the Troutnut forum. And, glad you outing to Knuppenburg Lake was productive. Incidentally, according to the latest WDFW stocking report, that lake is planted with Brown Trout.
Best regards,
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