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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 Neoleptophlebia (Leptophlebiidae) Mayfly Nymph from the Yakima River in Washington
Some characteristics from the microscope images for the tentative species id: The postero-lateral projections are found only on segment 9, not segment 8. Based on the key in Jacobus et al. (2014), it appears to key to Neoleptophlebia adoptiva or Neoleptophlebia heteronea, same as this specimen with pretty different abdominal markings. However, distinguishing between those calls for comparing the lengths of the second and third segment of the labial palp, and this one (like the other one) only seems to have two segments. So I'm stuck on them both. It's likely that the fact that they're immature nymphs stymies identification in some important way.
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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Landscape & scenery photos from the Kenai River

Lena's Kenai River rainbow
The Kenai River in Alaska
Kenai River rainbow I caught on a leech pattern Perry tied
Sierra landing a trout

From the Kenai River in Alaska
View to the Kenai Mountains from the river below Skilak Lake

From the Kenai River in Alaska
Lena with a trout on the line

From the Kenai River in Alaska
Unhooking another trout for Lena

From the Kenai River in Alaska
Water on the Kenai was about 3 feet higher than usual, up into t

From the Kenai River in Alaska
Netting Lena's trout
The Kenai River in Alaska
The Kenai River in Alaska

References

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