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.
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This is a striking caddis larva with an interesting color pattern on the head. Here are some characteristics I was able to see under the microscope, but could not easily expose for a picture:
- The prosternal horn is present.
- The mandible is clearly toothed, not formed into a uniform scraper blade.
- The seems to be only 2 major setae on the ventral edge of the hind femur.
- Chloride epithelia seem to be absent from the dorsal side of any abdominal segments.
Based on these characteristics and the ones more easily visible from the pictures, this seems to be Grammotaulius. The key's description of the case is spot-on: "Case cylindrical, made of longitudinally arranged sedge or similar leaves," as is the description of the markings on the head, "Dorsum of head light brownish yellow with numerous discrete, small, dark spots." The spot pattern on the head is a very good match to figure 19.312 of Merritt R.W., Cummins, K.W., and Berg, M.B. (2019). The species ID is based on Grammotaulius betteni being the only species of this genus known in Washington state.
- The prosternal horn is present.
- The mandible is clearly toothed, not formed into a uniform scraper blade.
- The seems to be only 2 major setae on the ventral edge of the hind femur.
- Chloride epithelia seem to be absent from the dorsal side of any abdominal segments.
Based on these characteristics and the ones more easily visible from the pictures, this seems to be Grammotaulius. The key's description of the case is spot-on: "Case cylindrical, made of longitudinally arranged sedge or similar leaves," as is the description of the markings on the head, "Dorsum of head light brownish yellow with numerous discrete, small, dark spots." The spot pattern on the head is a very good match to figure 19.312 of Merritt R.W., Cummins, K.W., and Berg, M.B. (2019). The species ID is based on Grammotaulius betteni being the only species of this genus known in Washington state.
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Oldredbarn has attached these 9 pictures. The message is below.
Oldredbarn on Mar 13, 2017March 13th, 2017, 7:13 am EDT
Just wanted to share a bit of my weekend past. As VP of the Michigan Fly Fishing Club I get to introduce our headline speakers for our show.
Our club is 400+ members and we have been around since 1970. Our Fly Fishing expo since 1978...This was our 40th.
As they say it takes a village and all our volunteers made this another great weekend. We set it up and we take it down!
This was an odd week since our show was bracketed by a freakish wind storm here in Detroit that left 800,000, including me, without power, followed by 5" of snow the day after the show ended?!
Our headliners helped bring the folks in this weekend and we all had a great time...Craig Mathews, Rick Kustich, Landon Mayer, and George Daniels were our presenters and everyone seems extremely happy at the results of our show.
Thanks all!
Spence
Our club is 400+ members and we have been around since 1970. Our Fly Fishing expo since 1978...This was our 40th.
As they say it takes a village and all our volunteers made this another great weekend. We set it up and we take it down!
This was an odd week since our show was bracketed by a freakish wind storm here in Detroit that left 800,000, including me, without power, followed by 5" of snow the day after the show ended?!
Our headliners helped bring the folks in this weekend and we all had a great time...Craig Mathews, Rick Kustich, Landon Mayer, and George Daniels were our presenters and everyone seems extremely happy at the results of our show.
Thanks all!
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
"Envy not the man who lives beside the river, but the man the river flows through." Joseph T Heywood
Jmd123 on Mar 13, 2017March 13th, 2017, 8:25 am EDT
Hey Spence, looks like fun!! Good for you guys! Yeah, the recent weather does not make one think much about fly fishing, so that looks like a great way to perk up during the "almost-over-winter blues".
And, perhaps drop a bunch of cash-ola...just noticed the vendors' tables and displays behind Craig Matthews and yourself in that picture...perhaps on an obscure color of neck or those specialty hooks you just can't find anywhere else?
BTW where was this?
Jonathon
And, perhaps drop a bunch of cash-ola...just noticed the vendors' tables and displays behind Craig Matthews and yourself in that picture...perhaps on an obscure color of neck or those specialty hooks you just can't find anywhere else?
BTW where was this?
Jonathon
No matter how big the one you just caught is, there's always a bigger one out there somewhere...
Oldredbarn on Mar 14, 2017March 14th, 2017, 3:59 pm EDT
We hold it at Macomb Community College. 12 Mile Rd and Hayes. Years ago we were at the Southfield Civic Center.
"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
"Envy not the man who lives beside the river, but the man the river flows through." Joseph T Heywood
Wiflyfisher on Mar 18, 2017March 18th, 2017, 2:35 am EDT
Spence, looks like a great FF Show. Were there many young people attending your FF Expo?
I asked that because it seems the few FF Shows I have attended over the past few years there are hardly any young people. The average age seems to be around 50 or higher!
I asked that because it seems the few FF Shows I have attended over the past few years there are hardly any young people. The average age seems to be around 50 or higher!
John S.
https://WiFlyFisher.com
https://WiFlyFisher.com
Oldredbarn on Mar 18, 2017March 18th, 2017, 4:57 am EDT
Were there many young people attending your FF Expo?
Well...Yes...The majority were older. We do have a "Kids Corner" for the youngsters where they tie a fly, dye a t-shirt, and cast. That was packed this year.
We had some help with the younger group of featured speakers with attracting maybe a somewhat younger crowd. We are working on our line up for next year with the younger crowd in mind.
We had a very well attended show, especially considering that somewhere around 800,000, including myself, had been without power since the Wednesday before.
There are guys out there that the younger generation are attracted to. That's normal. Every generation seems to want to reinvent the wheel and have something they consider special for themselves. George Daniels has tapped into that with a younger following for his nymph book and now the streamer one.
We have a shop out in Ypsilanti that is run by Mike Schultz and he has a younger following. He attends our Expo. Big streamers are all the rage...;)
Rick Kustich is doing some cool stuff chasing Musky. I escorted him around the last time he was here and it was the first time I watched someone tie reverse buck tail on those pins...You tie on one and it attaches to another etc, and before you know it you have a monster fly. He showed me the pic of the Musky he caught with it and it was a monster.
Along the same note John...Our average age of our club is 62!? I think it is important that we attempt to interest the younger crowd...Our streams need to be protected and they won't be if the next generation has little interest in them.
Last year when I was in the Catskills with Tony and Eric I stopped in and visited the old Dettes Fly Shop in Roscoe. The grandson of Mary Dettes is running the shop now and he's a very thoughtful young man. We were having the same conversation and he told me not to worry, that the younger crowd is out there, and they are watching us online. He told me to keep our web page up to snuff etc.
He also told me about a group of 20-somethings that come up to the Catskills from Manhattan and quietly only fish the old Catskill ties...Its their thing. They keep it to themselves and are having a great deal of fun with it.
Spence
PS...I looked closer at the pic I posted of the crowd attending Landon's tying session and nearly 85%+ looks older...There's even one fella that looks like he's taking a nap in the front row there.
"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
"Envy not the man who lives beside the river, but the man the river flows through." Joseph T Heywood
Wbranch on Mar 18, 2017March 18th, 2017, 12:17 pm EDT
Where did the guys in the front row park their walkers?
Catskill fly fisher for fifty-five years.
Oldredbarn on Mar 22, 2017March 22nd, 2017, 7:56 am EDT
Where did the guys in the front row park their walkers?
Not sure Matt...:)
I did blow up the pic and there's at least a half-a-dozen looking at their cellphones?!
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
"Envy not the man who lives beside the river, but the man the river flows through." Joseph T Heywood
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