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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I was not fishing, but happened to be at an unrelated social event on a hill above this tiny creek (which I never even saw) when this stonefly flew by me. I assume it came from there. Some key characteristics are tricky to follow, but process of elimination ultimately led me to Sweltsa borealis. It is reassuringly similar to this specimen posted by Bob Newell years ago. It is also so strikingly similar to this nymph from the same river system that I'm comfortable identifying that nymph from this adult. I was especially pleased with the closeup photo of four mites parasitizing this one.
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Summer_doug has attached these 3 pictures to this report. The message is below.
Report at a Glance
| General Region | Baldwin, MI |
| Dates Fished | 1/14/2018 |
Details and Discussion
Summer_doug on Jan 16, 2018January 16th, 2018, 11:45 pm EST
As a group of four, we spent the better part of the day swinging streamers and nymphing at the end of the flies-only section of the Pere Marquette.
The day started with temperatures in the single digits and climbed to a high of 21. The resulting warmth of the previous few days cleared out a lot of shelf ice and we witnessed loosening anchor ice; however, we had to battle ice build up the entire day resulting in one broken rod tip (my own when I was too careless).
The loosing anchor ice resulted in a few hits and landing ice trout, but no actual trout were caught. One fish was hooked by a friend using an egg pattern, but was lost almost immediately. The same friend sighted a steelhead, but some disagreement existed in the group. All in all, there were nibbles but the fish were sluggish. (So were we so I can't blame them!)
For two of the four of us, this was not only the first winter fishing experience, but also their first time fly fishing. The casts were looking sharp and it was one of the newbies who hooked the only fish of the day. Thankfully, they want to go again, but I think we will wait until Spring.
Hope everyone stays warm!
Here are some pictures to check out.
Doug
The day started with temperatures in the single digits and climbed to a high of 21. The resulting warmth of the previous few days cleared out a lot of shelf ice and we witnessed loosening anchor ice; however, we had to battle ice build up the entire day resulting in one broken rod tip (my own when I was too careless).
The loosing anchor ice resulted in a few hits and landing ice trout, but no actual trout were caught. One fish was hooked by a friend using an egg pattern, but was lost almost immediately. The same friend sighted a steelhead, but some disagreement existed in the group. All in all, there were nibbles but the fish were sluggish. (So were we so I can't blame them!)
For two of the four of us, this was not only the first winter fishing experience, but also their first time fly fishing. The casts were looking sharp and it was one of the newbies who hooked the only fish of the day. Thankfully, they want to go again, but I think we will wait until Spring.
Hope everyone stays warm!
Here are some pictures to check out.
Doug
From Michigan
Partsman on Jan 17, 2018January 17th, 2018, 2:21 am EST
Doug, thanks for report and pics, I had hoped to do some fishing this winter, but its been way to cold for this old man! I used to steelhead fish all winter thru may usaually the lower ausable or the Muskegon below croton dam, but I will wait to things warm up a tad.
Mike.
Mike.
Summer_doug on Jan 17, 2018January 17th, 2018, 11:06 pm EST
It was too cold for this young man! I'm still waiting on my first steelhead though so I'm going to keep pushing it!
I think my next time out will be near the end of March.
Doug
I think my next time out will be near the end of March.
Doug
From Michigan
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