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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 Sweltsa (Chloroperlidae) (Sallfly) Stonefly Nymph from the Yakima River in Washington
This species was fairly abundant in a February sample of the upper Yakima.
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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Report at a Glance

General RegionParadise Valley, south of Livingston, MT
Specific Locationspring creek, courtesy FFF conclave
Dates FishedAug. 2
Time of Daynoon to nine
Fish Caughttwo browns and a rainbow
Conditions & Hatchesafternoon very windy, grew cloudy, few bugs and fewer fish.
after 6, no wind, hatch of pale mayflies and some smaller olive looking ones
water 56 degrees

Details and Discussion

CaseyP
CaseyP's profile picture
Arlington, VA/ Mercersburg, PA

Posts: 653
CaseyP on Aug 2, 2007August 2nd, 2007, 5:37 pm EDT
caught three fish. one on a home-tied pheasant tail nymph in slow water (why do i spend any money at all on flies?). two on a waterhen bloa tied for trip to Yorkshire. used it when all the pale and olive colored emergers, duns, drys and whatevers failed. caught the first in front of the class i was taking, the second was on the last cast of the day. honestly! Softhackle and his brothers have gained another convert, big time. The only honest swipes those trout took were at the bloa. Best Fishing Buddy now wants to learn how to do this. guess it looked easier than slinging those drys into the most amazing set of cross currents and swells you ever did see. drag? oh brother...
"You can observe a lot by watching." Yogi Berra
Softhackle
Softhackle's profile picture
Wellsville, NY

Posts: 540
Softhackle on Aug 3, 2007August 3rd, 2007, 3:23 am EDT
Casey,
Trout everywhere like the soft-hackles and flymphs. They fit the bill so perfectly. They are relatively easy to tie, and are very effective to represent a myriad of water-borne insects. The list of converts grows everyday.

Mark
"I have the highest respect for the skilled wet-fly fisherman, as he has mastered an art of very great difficulty." Edward R. Hewitt

Flymphs, Soft-hackles and Spiders: http://www.troutnut.com/libstudio/FS&S/index.html
Martinlf
Martinlf's profile picture
Moderator
Palmyra PA

Posts: 3047
Martinlf on Aug 4, 2007August 4th, 2007, 5:25 am EDT
I'm a believer, if not the most skilled wet fly fisherman. I don't use them as much as I probably should, but am determined to learn to fish them better.
"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 Aug 4, 2007August 4th, 2007, 6:37 am EDT
Did the spring creek happen to be Armstrong?
Catskill fly fisher for fifty-five years.
CaseyP
CaseyP's profile picture
Arlington, VA/ Mercersburg, PA

Posts: 653
CaseyP on Aug 8, 2007August 8th, 2007, 3:53 pm EDT
nope, not to worry, but I bet they would work there.

CAVEAT: turns out it's illegal to fish three hooks at once in Montana. My bad...

two at once, though--go for it!
"You can observe a lot by watching." Yogi Berra
Wbranch
Wbranch's profile picture
York & Starlight PA

Posts: 2635
Wbranch on Mar 26, 2008March 26th, 2008, 12:08 pm EDT
Six of us fished a Livingston spring creek on June 30, 2007 from about 9:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. We were on the Missouri but had booked this one day before we flew out. We had absolutely incredible fishing. Two of the party fished nothing but nymphs pretty much for the whole day and they landed no less than fifty fish. Me and the other three guys fished dry all day and landed more than we cared to count.
Catskill fly fisher for fifty-five years.

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