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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 Epeorus albertae (Heptageniidae) (Pink Lady) Mayfly Nymph from the East Fork Issaquah Creek in Washington
This specimen keys to the Epeorus albertae group of species. Of the five species in that group, the two known in Washington state are Epeorus albertae and Epeorus dulciana. Of the two, albertae has been collected in vastly more locations in Washington than dulciana, suggesting it is far more common. On that basis alone I'm tentatively putting this nymph in albertae, with the large caveat that there's no real information to rule out dulciana.
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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Wbranch
Wbranch's profile picture
York & Starlight PA

Posts: 2635
Wbranch on Nov 17, 2014November 17th, 2014, 1:25 pm EST
Erie County where I do most of my steelheading is forecast to get between 18" and 28" over the next 36 hours. I guess I'm going to be staying home for awhile.
Catskill fly fisher for fifty-five years.
Falsifly
Falsifly's profile picture
Hayward, WI.

Posts: 660
Falsifly on Nov 18, 2014November 18th, 2014, 5:06 am EST
Matt, some of the best fishing I've ever had was during a blizzard.
Falsifly
When asked what I just caught that monster on I showed him. He put on his magnifiers and said, "I can't believe they can see that."
Wbranch
Wbranch's profile picture
York & Starlight PA

Posts: 2635
Wbranch on Nov 18, 2014November 18th, 2014, 7:20 am EST
Yes, two years ago I was at Twenty Mile, right down at the mouth, the weather was terrible and I had the last 100 yards of the creek to myself for six hours. Many, many fresh fish were coming in and I hooked dozens of various size chrome from 4# - 9#. The problem for me is it is hard to get around when there is 24", or more, of snow on the ground and it I might get stranded, or stuck up there, if the roads are covered.
Catskill fly fisher for fifty-five years.
Oldredbarn
Oldredbarn's profile picture
Novi, MI

Posts: 2600
Oldredbarn on Nov 18, 2014November 18th, 2014, 8:25 am EST
The problem for me is it is hard to get around when there is 24", or more, of snow on the ground and it I might get stranded, or stuck up there, if the roads are covered.


Matt,

Wise move...You can always tie some more flies or read something new by the fire...Prepare for you next trip in better conditions. No point taking undue risk.

I had buck fever at the old Buffalo Ford on the Yellowstone this past summer and nearly dunked two of us trying to get across to some feeding fish...Then it started to hail...I looked up and the clouds seemed almost low enough to touch and were rolling around...I was in, "just one more cast" mode...I could hear my buddy's calling out for me to leave the river, and BAM! A huge lightening bolt right on the opposite bank...I waded for shore as quickly as I could...

Those fish will still be there the next time for both of us.

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

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