Header image
Enter a name
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.
Troutnut is a project started in 2003 by salmonid ecologist Jason "Troutnut" Neuswanger to help anglers and fly tyers unabashedly embrace the entomological side of the sport. Learn more about Troutnut or support the project for an enhanced experience here.

Report at a Glance

General RegionErie County, PA
Specific LocationGirard and Folly's End
Dates FishedNovember 11 & 12
Time of Day8:00 - 12:00 & 1:00 - Dusk
Fish CaughtBright steelhead
Conditions & HatchesArrived on high water with virtually no visibility. Later Wednesday through Thursday very good color and conditions. Rain over night Thursday and stream totally blown out Friday morning.

Details and Discussion

Wbranch
Wbranch's profile picture
York & Starlight PA

Posts: 2635
Wbranch on Nov 15, 2015November 15th, 2015, 12:50 pm EST
Wednesday caught two 23" fresh fish at Route 20 area. Drove up to Folly's End and found a nice pool with good numbers of fish in the head. Hooked six and landed four to 25".

Thursday slammed a ton of new fish in Girard on orange sucker spawn, emerald shiners, and various egg patterns. Hooked fifteen and put ten on the gravel. In the afternoon I went back to Folly's and the stream was low, had to walk upstream almost a mile to find fish. Very windy with gusts to 45 mph. Leaves in the stream were a major problem. Hooked six and put four more on the gravel including one about 26".

Was going to fish four hours on Friday morning but it must of rained hard overnight in the headwaters because when I got to Folly's at 7:30 a.m. the river was at least a foot up since the late afternoon the day before and dirty. Took my stuff off and by 8:10 was heading home. Drove non stop and pulled into my driveway at 1:25. Took some pictures with my cell phone but didn't upload them yet. Probably will go back one more time after Thanksgiving.
Catskill fly fisher for fifty-five years.
Martinlf
Martinlf's profile picture
Moderator
Palmyra PA

Posts: 3047
Martinlf on Nov 18, 2015November 18th, 2015, 6:44 am EST
Not a bad couple of days, Matt. Thanks for the report.
"He spread them a yard and a half. 'And every one that got away is this big.'"

--Fred Chappell
Wbranch
Wbranch's profile picture
York & Starlight PA

Posts: 2635
Wbranch on Nov 18, 2015November 18th, 2015, 7:27 am EST
Heck yea! Anytime I can land twenty steelhead in two days is a great trip. Might be done for now going to Erie. Getting ready for Thanksgiving. I cook the bird and make a stuffing my Mom used to make and my wife makes the sweet potatoes, her stuffing, vegetables, etc. We have the biggest dining room so we get about 10 - 12 people. Then it is the start of decorating the house for Christmas and the associated dinner parties.

Looks like the earliest I could get back up is December 13.
Catskill fly fisher for fifty-five years.

Quick Reply

Related Discussions

Topic
Replies
Last Reply
9
Aug 22, 2013
by Taxon
4
Mar 12, 2013
by Martinlf
1
Jul 24, 2007
by GONZO
Troutnut.com is copyright © 2004-2024 (email Jason). privacy policy