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Lateral view of a Female Hexagenia limbata (Ephemeridae) (Hex) Mayfly Dun from the Namekagon River in Wisconsin
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.

Dorsal view of a Holocentropus (Polycentropodidae) Caddisfly Larva from the Yakima River in Washington
This one seems to tentatively key to Holocentropus, although I can't make out the anal spines in Couplet 7 of the Key to Genera of Polycentropodidae Larvae nor the dark bands in Couplet 4 of the Key to Genera of Polycentropodidae Larvae, making me wonder if I went wrong somewhere in keying it out. I don't see where that could have happened, though. It might also be that it's a very immature larva and doesn't possess all the identifying characteristics in the key yet. If Holocentropus is correct, then Holocentropus flavus and Holocentropus interruptus are the two likely possibilities based on range, but I was not able to find a description of their larvae.
27" brown trout, my largest ever. It was the sub-dominant fish in its pool. After this, I hooked the bigger one, but I couldn't land it.
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Baetis7
MI

Posts: 17
Baetis7 on Sep 3, 2014September 3rd, 2014, 10:15 am EDT
Can anyone tell me the technical name to the beard on the ventral side below thorax on caddis pupae? I tie a few patterns with this imitated beard but was always curious to know the technical name for this morphological part. Thank you!
Baetis7
MI

Posts: 17
Baetis7 on Sep 3, 2014September 3rd, 2014, 10:21 am EDT
Here is a pattern I came up with a few years back with beard. I call it a 'Pure Caddis'

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Creno
Grants Pass, OR

Posts: 302
Creno on Sep 3, 2014September 3rd, 2014, 4:02 pm EDT
The technical name for the beard on a caddis imatation is probably "beard". But there are others I suspect will have their own names :-) That is a nice looking fly.

I imagine the beard is envisioned by fly tiers to represent the legs of the pupae.
Entoman
Entoman's profile picture
Northern CA & ID

Posts: 2604
Entoman on Sep 3, 2014September 3rd, 2014, 10:08 pm EDT
"Beard hackle" or simply "beard" is a term in fly tying used to describe the method of hackling a nymph or wet fly where the hackle is mounted under the body only. Another term commonly used for this method is "throat hackle" or "throat", especially when referencing streamers. Used on caddis imitations the intention is to imitate the trailing legs as Creno suggested. Whether it succeeds at this is debatable, especially since a beard hackle without a substantial wing mounted on top will make a fly drift upside down. There is no use of the term in caddis morphology that I'm aware of.

"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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