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.
This one was surprisingly straightforward to identify. The lack of a sclerite at the base of the lateral hump narrows the field quite a bit, and the other options followed fairly obvious characteristics to Clostoeca, which only has one species, Clostoeca disjuncta.
Jmd123 on Jun 13, 2016June 13th, 2016, 9:02 pm EDT
Well, after last week's disasters, I had to get back in the saddle. With a brand new set of waders and boots, courtesy Nordic Sports in Tawas (got to try them on, something you can't do online), I headed back to the Rifle where my previous water pants blew out on me. No really major hatches, but quite a variety of insects on the water, some caddis flies flitting about and some mayflies riding the current. Well, it was enough to get them feeding, and I think I caught about 20, having lost count somewhere after 6...first on a #12 grey EHC, then switched to my last Iso imitation and started to REALLY hammer them, including a 15-incher who went into some wood and wrapped, then came flying back out when I went in to untangle him, still on the fly! Got a few little rainbows including a 9 1/2-incher that went airborne several times. When I lost that fly - I have the pattern memorized so I just need to tie 'em - I put on a #12 Adams and continued to catch fish...
Best night on the Rifle this year - beautiful evening, beautiful water, beautiful flowers, abundant bugs, hungry fish, and all to myself! Life IS good!
Jonathon
No matter how big the one you just caught is, there's always a bigger one out there somewhere...