Troutnut.com Fly Fishing for Trout Home
User Password
or register.
Scientific name search:

> > Kennebago Mayfly



Kennebago has attached this picture to aid in identification. The message is below.
View Full SizeView Full Size (2.5X larger)
Name this mayfly
Name this mayfly
KennebagoJanuary 7th, 2012, 12:50 pm
Kennebago Maine

Posts: 2
I've been told this could be a brown drake or a green drake.....any help on the correct identification please?
Fish Kennebago, you'll be glad you did.
EntomanJanuary 7th, 2012, 3:30 pm
Northern CA & ID

Posts: 2604
Hi Kennebago -

Welcome to the forum!

The insect in your photo is a Hexagenia (probably limbata) male imago (spinner), usually referred to as "Hex" in current fly fishing journalism. Besides Hex, the most used common names seem to be Great Yellow Drake (in regions w/out E. varia), Big Yellow May, and Michigan Caddis. Great Lead-winged Olive or Lead-winged Drake are also common for the darker winged non-yellowish strains of this species. There is a lot of regional variation in appearance and the males are smaller and often much darker than the females. This is the reason for so many different descriptive names for the same species.

Though they do belong to the same family of mayflies (Ephemeridae), the names Green Drake and Brown Drake refer to three tailed species in the different genus Ephemera. Tail counts in the adults aside, all the nymphs of this family have a similar appearance. They can be easily identified by their large size, heavily gilled abdomens and tusks.

BTW - Nice photo.

Best Regards
"It's not that I find fishing so important, it's just that I find all other endeavors of Man equally unimportant... And not nearly as much fun!" Robert Traver, Anatomy of a Fisherman
KennebagoJanuary 8th, 2012, 6:41 am
Kennebago Maine

Posts: 2
Thanks very much for the clarification. I use an Olympus 790 Stylus camera now. Had drowned two earlier digital cameras on the river before wising up to purchase a waterproof camera. It has a very nice closeup setting.
Fish Kennebago, you'll be glad you did.
EntomanJanuary 10th, 2012, 3:30 am
Northern CA & ID

Posts: 2604
You're welcome. Your camera does a nice job with you at the controls. I look forward to more of your photos.

Click on this link to check out what I meant by regional variations. You wouldn't think it the same species, but it is. FWIW, if I fished your hatch, I'd call it a Lead-wing Drake. Don't like the name "Hex" and there's not much yellow or olive on your specimen.:)
http://www.troutnut.com/topic/745/Hex-in-NC
Also check out some of Jason's excellent photos under Hexagenia limbata in the hatch encyclopedia pages.

"It's not that I find fishing so important, it's just that I find all other endeavors of Man equally unimportant... And not nearly as much fun!" Robert Traver, Anatomy of a Fisherman

Quick Reply

You have to be logged in to post on the forum. It's this easy:
Username:          Email:

Password:    Confirm Password:

I am at least 13 years old and agree to the rules.

Related Discussions

TitleRepliesLast Reply
Re: New Mexico ???
In Beginner Help by Hankaye
3Apr 19, 2013
by Sayfu
green drake hatch on yellow creek
In Male Ephemera guttulata Mayfly Spinner by Liljrob
0
Re: i posted this in the forum, but...
In the Insect Order Ephemeroptera by Rckrego
1Apr 18, 2007
by Troutnut
Re: The "Mess"
In Fly Tying by Wiflyfisher
9Sep 14, 2007
by JMarcus
Re: Coffin Fly Spinner
In Male Ephemera simulans Mayfly Spinner by Jackson
6Jun 10, 2009
by Martinlf
Re: Green Drake Hatch Temp?
In the Mayfly Species Ephemera guttulata by NEMatt
1May 24, 2014
by Entoman
Re: green drake
In Female Ephemera guttulata Mayfly Dun by Roytop
3Jun 1, 2011
by Troutnut
Re: Baetis v Empheralla Attenuata
In the Identify This! Board by Byhaugh
5Dec 18, 2013
by Entoman
Re: Baetid nymph color
In Male Baetidae Mayfly Nymph by Martinlf
1Dec 26, 2006
by GONZO
Re: BWO Color
In General Discussion by Goose
3Mar 27, 2013
by JOHNW
Most Recent Posts
Re: large free living caddis rhyacophila?
In the Identify This! Board by Kjfeen (Taxon replied)