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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 Ephemerella mucronata (Ephemerellidae) Mayfly Nymph from the Yakima River in Washington
This is an interesting one. Following the keys in Merritt R.W., Cummins, K.W., and Berg, M.B. (2019) and Jacobus et al. (2014), it keys clearly to Ephemerella. Jacobus et al provide a key to species, but some of the characteristics are tricky to interpret without illustrations. If I didn't make any mistakes, this one keys to Ephemerella mucronata, which has not previously been reported any closer to here than Montana and Alberta. The main character seems to fit well: "Abdominal terga with prominent, paired, subparallel, spiculate ridges." Several illustrations or descriptions of this holarctic species from the US and Europe seem to match, including the body length, tarsal claws and denticles, labial palp, and gill shapes. These sources include including Richard Allen's original description of this species in North America under the now-defunct name E. moffatae in Allen RK (1977) and the figures in this description of the species in Italy.
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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Brianbf
Posts: 1
Brianbf on May 26, 2018May 26th, 2018, 3:23 pm EDT
I am wondering if there is a boot that would work with waders that cam be both a hiking boot and a fly fishing boot. If so, any suggestions?
Jmd123
Jmd123's profile picture
Oscoda, MI

Posts: 2474
Jmd123 on May 26, 2018May 26th, 2018, 11:32 pm EDT
Most modern wading boots are based on hiking boot designs. I use mine in the summer with a pair of wading socks once the water (& air!) get too warm for waders. Unless you have felt soles, which don't have much gripping power on land, most wading boots have enough divots on the sole to grip terrain. You might just have to clean the mud off of them once you're done...

Jonathon
No matter how big the one you just caught is, there's always a bigger one out there somewhere...

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