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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 Epeorus albertae (Heptageniidae) (Pink Lady) Mayfly Nymph from the East Fork Issaquah Creek in Washington
This specimen keys to the Epeorus albertae group of species. Of the five species in that group, the two known in Washington state are Epeorus albertae and Epeorus dulciana. Of the two, albertae has been collected in vastly more locations in Washington than dulciana, suggesting it is far more common. On that basis alone I'm tentatively putting this nymph in albertae, with the large caveat that there's no real information to rule out dulciana.
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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DonT
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Posts: 3
DonT on Apr 13, 2020April 13th, 2020, 3:43 am EDT
I wasn't having any luck in catching trout in the Matin's Creek. I hadn't even gotten a hit. Everyone said "well use a Wooly Bugger".........Junk. Never even a hit it a whole year.....One LMB.
Last week a gentleman walked up and asked how I was making out and I said "terrible". "Never caught a trout ever after a year of trying." He said he could help me out and handed over some of the plainest looking and miniature Nymphs and on my first cast I had hits. Hits developed into many more and then a score.
I'm new to fly fishing and am wondering, will these Nymphs be good all year or do I have to switch to the adult version of them as they develop during spring and summer. The flies were as follows: 16 Prince, 16 or smaller Flashback Pheasant Tail and 14 Zug Bug.
Baron
Taxon
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Site Editor
Plano, TX

Posts: 1311
Taxon on Apr 13, 2020April 13th, 2020, 10:18 am EDT
Hi DonT-

Interesting first post. Did you mean Martins Creek in PA?

However, in answer to your question, I suspect those small nymphs would work well for you all year.
Best regards,
Roger Rohrbeck
www.FlyfishingEntomology.com
DonT
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Posts: 3
DonT on Apr 13, 2020April 13th, 2020, 1:42 pm EDT
Hello Roger,
yes I am in Easton PA (think Crayola) and I fish mostly the Martins Creek about 5 miles up the Delaware R. from Easton. Is nymphing a rather consistantly successful procedure except maybe during a wild Trico Hatch? Do I alter the colors or size as the summer progresses or are nymphs the same al year?



BTW, I don't know how it happened but I have two memberships and I am not exactly new. I am also Baron on this site. If you, as site Editor, would know how to cancel Baron It would be nice.

Best!
Baron
Martinlf
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Moderator
Palmyra PA

Posts: 3047
Martinlf on Apr 13, 2020April 13th, 2020, 2:53 pm EDT
Those nymphs will work any day of any month. Keep experimenting with similar ones, though. Sometimes smaller is better, sometimes larger. But little pheasant tails will work almost anytime.
"He spread them a yard and a half. 'And every one that got away is this big.'"

--Fred Chappell
Taxon
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Site Editor
Plano, TX

Posts: 1311
Taxon on Apr 13, 2020April 13th, 2020, 4:56 pm EDT
Is nymphing a rather consistantly successful procedure except maybe during a wild Trico Hatch?

When no emergence activity is occurring, nymphing is likely to be a more successful strategy than is use of a dry fly.

Do I alter the colors or size as the summer progresses or are nymphs the same al year?

The nymphs (of a particular species) do get progressively larger as they mature. However, only the wingpads of mayfly nymphs change color by getting much darker during their final instar.

BTW, I don't know how it happened but I have two memberships and I am not exactly new. I am also Baron on this site. If you, as site Editor, would know how to cancel Baron It would be nice.

You would likely need to request that Jason to do that for you.
Best regards,
Roger Rohrbeck
www.FlyfishingEntomology.com
DonT
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Posts: 3
DonT on Apr 14, 2020April 14th, 2020, 12:43 am EDT
Well, This has really been helpful, thanks
Baron

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