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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 Kogotus (Perlodidae) Stonefly Nymph from Mystery Creek #199 in Washington
This one pretty clearly keys to Kogotus, but it also looks fairly different from specimens I caught in the same creek about a month later in the year. With only one species of the genus known in Washington, I'm not sure about the answer to this ID.
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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Wbranch
Wbranch's profile picture
York & Starlight PA

Posts: 2635
Wbranch on Aug 13, 2007August 13th, 2007, 1:19 pm EDT
Here a couple of pictures of some wild browns I caught today in a little freestone within fifteen minutes of a bustling metropolis. The water temperature was 62 degrees. I also landed a handful of 10" - 12" stocked browns. Most all of the fish took a little # 20 nymph "hand twisted" retrieve back to me and one took a # 12 black beetle.





Catskill fly fisher for fifty-five years.
Smallstream
State College, PA

Posts: 103
Smallstream on Aug 13, 2007August 13th, 2007, 2:57 pm EDT
nice! thats what its all about. Whats a hand twist retrieve?
Wiflyfisher
Wiflyfisher's profile picture
Wisconsin

Posts: 622
Wiflyfisher on Aug 13, 2007August 13th, 2007, 3:20 pm EDT
Hand twist (my rough definition):

Using the hand holding the fly line, extend the fingers (pinky finger first) forward and grab the fly line and tuck it in under the hand. Repeat it over and over again to slowly crawl the fly in about 3 inches at a time.

BTW, nice looking fish! I hope that little freestone stays unmolested.
Wbranch
Wbranch's profile picture
York & Starlight PA

Posts: 2635
Wbranch on Aug 14, 2007August 14th, 2007, 6:26 am EDT
Smallstream,

Ray Bergman coined the phrase "hand twist" retrieve. If you have a copy of his book "Trout" turn to page 22 and he provides a description of the mechanics of this line retrieval method. The "Wise Fishermen's Encyclopedia" has a description and five line drawings depicting the hand movements and the orientation of the line on page 536.
Catskill fly fisher for fifty-five years.
IEatimago
Spring Mills, PA

Posts: 97
IEatimago on Aug 14, 2007August 14th, 2007, 7:38 am EDT
beauty's WB thanks for sharing.

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