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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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Wbranch has attached these 15 pictures. The message is below.
Marabou Black Ghost
Mickey Finn in progress
Marabou Gray Ghost
Completed Mickey Finn's w/plastic JC
Various Hornbergs
Wheatley loaded
What's left of a full JC cape bought 50 years ago.
Nine Three & maybe an Edson Tiger - kind of forget
Black Nosed Dace
The correct name to this fly wins a prize
Another view
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Wbranch
Wbranch's profile picture
York & Starlight PA

Posts: 2635
Wbranch on Aug 23, 2020August 23rd, 2020, 4:41 am EDT
Here is a bunch of tradional hair and fearther wing streamers I tied a few winters ago.
Catskill fly fisher for fifty-five years.
Partsman
Partsman's profile picture
bancroft michigan

Posts: 321
Partsman on Aug 23, 2020August 23rd, 2020, 11:06 am EDT
Matt, beautiful streamers! I really loved the Mickey Finns and the Black Nosed dace!
Thanks, Mike.
Wbranch
Wbranch's profile picture
York & Starlight PA

Posts: 2635
Wbranch on Aug 24, 2020August 24th, 2020, 2:51 am EDT
Thanks Mike. I'd been toying with going up to north western Maine to fish the Maggalloway and Rapid rivers. Both pretty much the last bastion of really big wild brook trout in the US. Mid May is prime time, just after ME ice out. But mid May is prime dry fly time on the Delaware and none of my close friends were willing to give up one week to go off to Maine.
Catskill fly fisher for fifty-five years.

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