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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 Zapada cinctipes (Nemouridae) (Tiny Winter Black) Stonefly Nymph from the Yakima River in Washington
Nymphs of this species were fairly common in late-winter kick net samples from the upper Yakima River. Although I could not find a key to species of Zapada nymphs, a revision of the Nemouridae family by Baumann (1975) includes the following helpful sentence: "2 cervical gills on each side of midline, 1 arising inside and 1 outside of lateral cervical sclerites, usually single and elongate, sometimes constricted but with 3 or 4 branches arising beyond gill base in Zapada cinctipes." This specimen clearly has the branches and is within the range of that species.
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.

Wiflyfisher has attached these 7 pictures to aid in identification. The message is below.
Ephoron luekon caught in spider's web on a branch.
A branch full of white flies!
A hand full of Ephoron luekon duns & spinners
More Ephoron luekon
A 17" brown trout who ate my wet fly imitation, early morning. (He was released right after photo.)
It appears the females have long, slender yellow egg sacks.
Closeup of Ephoron luekon spinner
Wiflyfisher
Wiflyfisher's profile picture
Wisconsin

Posts: 622
Wiflyfisher on Aug 5, 2007August 5th, 2007, 7:05 am EDT
This morning on one of my favorite NW Wisconsin streams I found Ephoron leukon spinners and duns covering spider webs near the stream. Also, a wet fly version of Ephoron leukon worked great at catching trout still looking for the little white mayflies.

http://www.wiflyfisher.com/ephoron-leukon-mayfly-hatch.asp
Martinlf
Martinlf's profile picture
Moderator
Palmyra PA

Posts: 3047
Martinlf on Aug 5, 2007August 5th, 2007, 8:16 am EDT
Great bug photos! Nice fish, too.
"He spread them a yard and a half. 'And every one that got away is this big.'"

--Fred Chappell
Shawnny3
Moderator
Pleasant Gap, PA

Posts: 1197
Shawnny3 on Aug 5, 2007August 5th, 2007, 9:43 am EDT
Yes, very nice work on both fish and flies. What a hatch!

-Shawn
Jewelry-Quality Artistic Salmon Flies, by Shawn Davis
www.davisflydesigns.com
IEatimago
Spring Mills, PA

Posts: 97
IEatimago on Aug 6, 2007August 6th, 2007, 6:18 pm EDT
thats awsome!
also congrats on your catch.
Troutnut
Troutnut's profile picture
Administrator
Bellevue, WA

Posts: 2758
Troutnut on Aug 6, 2007August 6th, 2007, 8:50 pm EDT
Great photos John! I've gotta say I miss that river, hard as it may be to complain about my present situation. :)
Jason Neuswanger, Ph.D.
Troutnut and salmonid ecologist
Wiflyfisher
Wiflyfisher's profile picture
Wisconsin

Posts: 622
Wiflyfisher on Aug 7, 2007August 7th, 2007, 10:45 am EDT
Jason, I never said what river! :-)

It's hard to compete with your terrific digital shots! Especially with my el cheapo point-and-click camera. Of course, even if I had the more expensive stuff I still wouldn't know how to use it. I need a mouse and a keyboard for everything. :-)

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