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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 Holocentropus (Polycentropodidae) Caddisfly Larva from the Yakima River in Washington
This one seems to tentatively key to Holocentropus, although I can't make out the anal spines in Couplet 7 of the Key to Genera of Polycentropodidae Larvae nor the dark bands in Couplet 4 of the Key to Genera of Polycentropodidae Larvae, making me wonder if I went wrong somewhere in keying it out. I don't see where that could have happened, though. It might also be that it's a very immature larva and doesn't possess all the identifying characteristics in the key yet. If Holocentropus is correct, then Holocentropus flavus and Holocentropus interruptus are the two likely possibilities based on range, but I was not able to find a description of their larvae.
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.

Flytyerinpa
Flytyerinpa's profile picture
Pottsville Pa

Posts: 36
Flytyerinpa on Apr 9, 2019April 9th, 2019, 4:30 am EDT
To my fellow fly fishermen, please for your own sake don't take to many fly boxes with you when you go fishing, I've always carried some where around 4 to 6 boxes with me, but not any more, while out fishing the other day I pulled into a spot, I had taken trout at before, and honestly I don't know exactly what happened, if the boxes fell out of my pocket or if I set them down by the back of the car while I got my other gear. I walked up the creek maybe 50 yards when I heard a car stop, then the sound of a door closing, and the car leaving.
Not thinking anything about it I started thinking what fly I should start with, when I decided I was shocked to find I was missing 2 fly boxes, I raced back to my car, that's when I remembered the car stopping for a few seconds.
I seriously don't think it was another fly fishermen as I had my name address and phone number on my boxes, its been over a week and no one called yet, I'm thinking I probably had somewhere around 300 flys between the 2 boxes, bottom line I learned the hard way, hope my experience keeps others reading this from loosing ( STOLEN ) there flys
Martinlf
Martinlf's profile picture
Moderator
Palmyra PA

Posts: 3047
Martinlf on Apr 10, 2019April 10th, 2019, 9:30 am EDT
Yeah, I can't imagine a true fly fisherman taking someone else's flies. Most would call you to return them. But I lost a vest years ago, left behind by mistake, with my name, phone number etc. in it, and never heard a word. Sorry to hear this happened to you. With flies you tied, that is your time they took, something that can't be replaced at any cost. We'll all be more careful in the future--but almost everyone I know has lost something on the stream.
"He spread them a yard and a half. 'And every one that got away is this big.'"

--Fred Chappell
Iasgair
Iasgair's profile picture
Colorado

Posts: 148
Iasgair on Apr 10, 2019April 10th, 2019, 2:51 pm EDT
I was lucky once. I fish upstream, and I accidentally lost my box while in the river. I had no idea it happened.

About half an hour later a fellow fly fisher shows up and asks me if I lost a fly box. I felt my pocket and my eyes got big and said I apparently did. He said he was down below tying on a fly and here came this fly box just floating right to him. Nice gentleman he was.

If he didn't return my box, I would have been finished because I don't take a lot of flies with me. Maybe 20 at most is all I need for a day on the water.
Martinlf
Martinlf's profile picture
Moderator
Palmyra PA

Posts: 3047
Martinlf on Apr 10, 2019April 10th, 2019, 11:40 pm EDT
That's the kind of behavior I expect from most flyfishers.
"He spread them a yard and a half. 'And every one that got away is this big.'"

--Fred Chappell
Idryfly
Posts: 7
Idryfly on Apr 12, 2019April 12th, 2019, 11:49 pm EDT
I found a small inexpensive fly box on the Upper West delaware once and posted my find on a local catskill forum but no takers....and it was a rather modest box. My favorite story is I lost a really nice wooden net about 5 years ago on the Farmington....and I told a guy named Pete that I would routinely run into and chat up on that stretch....dont know his last name - don't have his number, etc.......fast forward a season later....I run into him and he states he was waiting all season to see me again....he not only found my net.....but over the winter he refinished it and stained it and its in his car.....we excitedly get there and he presents me with the net to which I reply there is good news and bad news.....the bad news is that is not my net.....the good news....Pete you now have one beautiful net. Ill always remember his act of kindness however.
Adirman
Adirman's profile picture
Monticello, NY

Posts: 479
Adirman on Apr 13, 2019April 13th, 2019, 4:10 am EDT
Yeah it’s inevitable, been there done that; sorry that happened to you ☹️
Wbranch
Wbranch's profile picture
York & Starlight PA

Posts: 2635
Wbranch on Apr 13, 2019April 13th, 2019, 11:42 am EDT
Two years ago on the lower end of Penns Creek, just uo from Weikert, I lost a beautiful Brodin "Gallatin" net with the "Ghost" bag. Posted my loss in a couple of forums, stopped by the fly shop on the river, and offered a $50 reward. Never heard a work.

I don't know why but over the last ten years I have lost five fly boxes of dry flies on the West Branch of the Delaware. The first loss was a Myran plastic box about 1.25" x 4" x 6". It was full of Hendrickson & Red quill emergers, duns, and spinners. Also over a dozen Para leps. Well over 100 flies. Then I lost a large ripple box 4" x 7" just crammed full with GD & BD nymphs, emergers, duns, and spinners. Next a small Myran box filled with over 100 Trico duns and spinners #20 - #24. Then a C&F box filled with freshly tied #16 & #18 Sulfur emergers and duns. Lastly another small Myran box with about 80 ants of various colors, winged and unwinged, and various bettles.

I re-tied all the flies except the ants and beetles. Now I am constantly checking to see if my vest pockets are zippered shut.
Catskill fly fisher for fifty-five years.
Afishinado
SE PA

Posts: 75
Afishinado on Apr 13, 2019April 13th, 2019, 11:42 pm EDT
Two years ago on the lower end of Penns Creek, just uo from Weikert, I lost a beautiful Brodin "Gallatin" net with the "Ghost" bag. Posted my loss in a couple of forums, stopped by the fly shop on the river, and offered a $50 reward. Never heard a work.

I don't know why but over the last ten years I have lost five fly boxes of dry flies on the West Branch of the Delaware. The first loss was a Myran plastic box about 1.25" x 4" x 6". It was full of Hendrickson & Red quill emergers, duns, and spinners. Also over a dozen Para leps. Well over 100 flies. Then I lost a large ripple box 4" x 7" just crammed full with GD & BD nymphs, emergers, duns, and spinners. Next a small Myran box filled with over 100 Trico duns and spinners #20 - #24. Then a C&F box filled with freshly tied #16 & #18 Sulfur emergers and duns. Lastly another small Myran box with about 80 ants of various colors, winged and unwinged, and various bettles.

I re-tied all the flies except the ants and beetles. Now I am constantly checking to see if my vest pockets are zippered shut.


Matt,

After losing a fly box many years ago on the Beaverkill, I figured a way for it to never happen again. I attach a lanyard to each fly box (you can use anything, even a shoe string) and attach it to the bottom of my pocket or bag with a large safety pin. The lanyard is attached to my fly boxes using heavy-duty velcro so boxes can be removed or changed out. I've never lost a fly box since.
Summer_doug
Detroit, MI

Posts: 46
Summer_doug on Apr 14, 2019April 14th, 2019, 9:15 am EDT
That’s a great way to make sure you don’t lose the box!
From Michigan
Wbranch
Wbranch's profile picture
York & Starlight PA

Posts: 2635
Wbranch on Apr 16, 2019April 16th, 2019, 6:48 am EDT
Great idea to affix a lanyard to the fly box and vest pocket. All of my C&F fly boxes already have a little appendage molded in with a hole in it to attach a piece of either heavy leader material or a piece of fly line and attach the other end to the pocket in the vest.
Catskill fly fisher for fifty-five years.
RleeP
NW PA - Pennsylvania's Glacial Pothole Wonderland

Posts: 398
RleeP on Apr 16, 2019April 16th, 2019, 8:05 am EDT
The attachment/cord/lanyard thing does sound like a good way to keep from losing boxes. Although knowing myself, I'd find a way to get the cords tangled and then lose the box or the contents while trying to untangle them.

What I tend to do is head for the bank and have a seat if I'm ready to change flies. This at least minimizes the potential for accidentally dumping the box and by that time, I'm usually ready to sit down for a while anyway. But I'm a smaller water guy and I can understand why it isn't always convenient to wade clear the hell over to the bank to change flies if you're fishing bigger water.

I've lost 2 boxes over the years. One containing about 150 nymphs which I simply walked off and left sitting on a streamside log in GSMNP. The other (and this is what got me in the habit of making for the bank..) was many years ago when I fumbled a full box of attractor dries while standing in the middle of the East Fork of the Sinnemahoning. That one cost me about 100 flies. I just went home and made more...
Jmd123
Jmd123's profile picture
Oscoda, MI

Posts: 2474
Jmd123 on Apr 17, 2019April 17th, 2019, 2:08 am EDT
Guys, I lost a CAMERA once...didn't check to make sure I zipped up the main compartment on my Orvis sling pack, waaaay back in the Pine River, probably slipped out while climbing over a log...however, it is a waterproof camera, so if I ever do find it, it might still work!!!

Never lost a fly box yet - they float!

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

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