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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 Neoleptophlebia (Leptophlebiidae) Mayfly Nymph from the Yakima River in Washington
Some characteristics from the microscope images for the tentative species id: The postero-lateral projections are found only on segment 9, not segment 8. Based on the key in Jacobus et al. (2014), it appears to key to Neoleptophlebia adoptiva or Neoleptophlebia heteronea, same as this specimen with pretty different abdominal markings. However, distinguishing between those calls for comparing the lengths of the second and third segment of the labial palp, and this one (like the other one) only seems to have two segments. So I'm stuck on them both. It's likely that the fact that they're immature nymphs stymies identification in some important way.
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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TNEAL
GRAYLING. MICHIGAN

Posts: 278
TNEAL on Feb 13, 2016February 13th, 2016, 3:06 am EST
Anyone know where parachute flies originated?
Taxon
Taxon's profile picture
Site Editor
Plano, TX

Posts: 1311
Taxon on Feb 13, 2016February 13th, 2016, 5:04 am EST
Hi Tim,

Parachute style dry flies were originated by William Avery Brush of Detroit circa 1930. See http://www.flyanglersonline.com/features/oldflies/oldflies20090622.php.
Best regards,
Roger Rohrbeck
www.FlyfishingEntomology.com
TNEAL
GRAYLING. MICHIGAN

Posts: 278
TNEAL on Feb 13, 2016February 13th, 2016, 8:07 am EST
Roger...

Thanks. My friend and keeper of the flame for AuSable (MI) original patterns always told me they were originally called gyros. Appears as though he was right. Michigan has become, over the years, a big producer of parachute flies. Earl Madsen's "Hatching Caddis", a giant parachute tied to ape an emerging Hexagenia (they were erroneously referred to as caddis back in the day) was perhaps the first parachute from this area. It was the forerunner of Clarece Roberts well know Roberts Drake.Earl's fly dates to the late 30's I believe.
KateS
Posts: 1
KateS on Aug 24, 2019August 24th, 2019, 10:58 am EDT
My great grandfather is William Avery Brush. I'm actually holding his patent for this from 1934 in my hand. Just ran into it while cleaning out some of my parents things. Knew of course about the Brush Runabout and his auto ventures but wasn't aware of this area of endeavors.

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