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Mayflies for ID

Stenacron man

New member
If anybody has a photo of a mayfly and they would like to know what it is. I would be happy to try to help you with it. I enjoy trying to solve a puzzle or two.


canadense for sure (11).jpg
 
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If anybody has a photo of a mayfly and they would like to know what it is. I would be happy to try to help you with it. I enjoy trying to solve a puzzle or two.


View attachment 11029

Does knowing the exact species help me match the hatch or really is it size and general color? Frankly I don't give a shit what is flying around also long as I catch fish. No offense, I have some odd hobbies and interests myself.
 
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Sunsignarcher has a good picture of one in the first page of the 9 days in the winds post.
 
Does knowing the exact species help me match the hatch or really is it size and general color? Frankly I don't give a shit what is flying around also long as I catch fish. No offense, I have some odd hobbies and interests myself.

All you need to know is size, color, and stage (i.e. emerger, dun, spinner) and hope that you have a match. Although, to fish the West Branch, you need to know latin names or they won't let you in.
 
Does knowing the exact species help me match the hatch or really is it size and general color? Frankly I don't give a shit what is flying around also long as I catch fish. No offense, I have some odd hobbies and interests myself.

That can certainly be true when mayflies are hatching through the film. But what if you arrive before the hatch and have no clue what hatches are common for the river you are fishing. The nymphs could be highly active and the fish on them under the surface. Which nymph in which size will you start with? IMO, it does matter if you know what the hatches are, at least the major hatches for the river(s) you will be fishing. The other option is to carry every fly you might ever need and a small seine net and spend some time sampling the bugs before tying on your flies. I like to know ahead of time what to expect so I am prepared the moment I get set up on the river after arrival. Do you need to know and spell the Latin names of each bug? No.
 
Great questions. What I can say is from my collecting work.

First if a stream your are going to fish is geographically in the same region as one you fish the most, then as long as the waters are similar you should basically find the same insects. To fish effectively and catch lots of fish you only need to see the color and sizes of the bugs with the greatest populations. Bring them home and tie flies that match. You don't really need to know much more than that. But, understanding insect ecology and behavior clarify the trouts feeding behavior. There is a video that I recommend to anybody to own. You can order a copy for under $20 buck. It is called the anatomy of a trout stream. It will explain everything in very simple terms and I have owned and watched it 1000's of time while tying flies in the winter.

Get familiar with you favorite stream. Take pictures load them and we will work through them on your level one at time. All you need is a net, put in the water and kick the rocks around. The insect go into the net and it is that easy. A book to own which is a must book is HATCH'S II they tell you all bout everything on the most common mayflies found and fished.


You don't need to learn the Latin names or the common names just know what the bugs look like. Knowing the names only helps when you are ready to know more from a research aspect or talk online with friends about what you saw on the water or in the air.



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I am in southern Ontario Canada so my flies are somewhat different. I can post tons of bugs but I can only suggest that you might encounter them. I will start a post called ---- "Mayflies you will likely encounter in NE America"-----

That would be the best I think if that would help.




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and what is this one?:)
 

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All taxonomic descriptions are for a male and this is a female. But I just read through 3 descriptions and all 3 align with this as being Maccaffertium pudicum.

The wings are the most important to align it. Pudicum have crossviens that are wider and darker than the longitudinal veins. I would say it is that species.
 
All taxonomic descriptions are for a male and this is a female. But I just read through 3 descriptions and all 3 align with this as being Maccaffertium pudicum.

The wings are the most important to align it. Pudicum have crossviens that are wider and darker than the longitudinal veins. I would say it is that species.

Dude, are you serious? Are you obsessed with this species? Cross veins, longitudinal veins, this reading aligns with this species......that bug is a Maccaffertium vicarium, better known as a Stenonema vicarium, or even better yet, known as a March Brown female spinner. How do I know?

I dated her, it was short-lived since she was only in heat for a few minutes as she flew over the riffles in search of a mate, but she was good, very good.

Lighten up, Francis.

Best regards,

Gray Fox
 
Are you obsessed with this species?




On the contrary I don't even like them, I think they are rather ugly.

If you truly fell it is vicarium than that's what it is RIGHT ???


PS; this sample was taxonomically matched to Walker vicarium 1853

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And this the pudicum
bug'.jpg

That's OK 95% of people can't tell the difference and the fish sure as hell don't care.

Boy no wonder most I know don't like to help others its is just not worth it. If you prefer I can do the same and not try to help ??????
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I am waiting for Simms to chime on this post and posit a truly disgusting picture for identification.
 
Stenacron here is one for you. I know what this is. I have only encountered this fly once in my 35 years + of fly fishing

It was a back in the 80s when I was just starting out fly fishing. I was fishing in the northern Adirondacks. I did not know what it was at the time. I took one to the local fly shop. The shop owner’s eyes lit up when he saw it. He told me what it was and ask my father what stream we were on. My father told him. Little did I Know that it would be the last time that I would ever encounter this May fly again.

These are not my pictures of the fly but I remember it like it was yesterday.

I might be able to stump you on this one.


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Very nice.

Yes you may just stump me fore sure
:D

To be totally honest I have never seen them before. I will take a stab at the genus though. Based on the larva gills, tails, and the very large hind wings in the adults they look like the genus
Siphlonurus.


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We though so also but it is not big enough to be a GD We were puzzled. At the time we had no idea the rare treat we were a witness to.

It was a Siphlonisca Aerodromia
 




On the contrary I don't even like them, I think they are rather ugly.

If you truly fell it is vicarium than that's what it is RIGHT ???


PS; this sample was taxonomically matched to Walker vicarium 1853

View attachment 11043
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And this the pudicum
View attachment 11044

That's OK 95% of people can't tell the difference and the fish sure as hell don't care.

Boy no wonder most I know don't like to help others its is just not worth it. If you prefer I can do the same and not try to help ??????
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Thank you for your unsolicited "help". Since you being so open-minded, the reason I have been busting your chops is because I also have extensive experience in aquatic insects and their ID, and it seems inconceivable that one can be so sure of their knowledge when viewing pictures that are not completely clear, focused or that otherwise provide the details necessary to make an unequivocal identification of a species. Genus, yes, species maybe.

Furthermore, FF makes some very good points, yet you haven't offered any real proof that you are correct beyond "so and so, who is an expert says so, and so do I". I'm not trying to give you a hard time here, I just think that with all the shit that is on the web that is incorrect, one would think it would be wise to have a more open mind, particularly when it comes to photos taken in the field (an alpaca field, especially).

Listen, I can hear a mosquito pissing from 100 yards away, and I can tell what sex it is. BUT I don't brag about it on NEFF.

Anyway, the shit you post is interesting, but it ain't written in stone, and it ain't going to cure cancer, so relax, and stop acting like Rusty Spinner.:rofl:

Finally, I saw a mayfly that had three tails, dark slate wings, a funky gray body and big tits, but it had big eyes. So was it a male or female?

Dr. Pudicumallover

BTW - If this site is too rough for you, you may want to try helping the guys on The Drake forums. They are much more docile than the bunch of miscreants that inhabit this site.
 
Stenacron here is one for you. I know what this is. I have only encountered this fly once in my 35 years + of fly fishing

It was a back in the 80s when I was just starting out fly fishing. I was fishing in the northern Adirondacks. I did not know what it was at the time. I took one to the local fly shop. The shop owner’s eyes lit up when he saw it. He told me what it was and ask my father what stream we were on. My father told him. Little did I Know that it would be the last time that I would ever encounter this May fly again.

These are not my pictures of the fly but I remember it like it was yesterday.

I might be able to stump you on this one.


View attachment 11051View attachment 11052View attachment 11053

Ameletus sp. without a doubt, Dr. Who Phlung Poo said so............:rofl:
 
The tail length I can not explain. All I can say is from my own personal rearing of the mayflies + what ever the professionals write. They don't consider tail length a important KEY. However I do think it is another piece of the puzzle and needs to be part of the formula to sorting things out. If you think about it ID from a photo is no more accurate that dissection in away. Because I can have two samples of vicarium in my hand. One looks like the fuscum form the other looks like true vicarium but they both have fuscum genitals. Or on the other hand they could both have true vicarium genitals. None of this is set in stone whether its a picture or a sample in hand. It always falls to speculation or a good guessing game that anybody can play if they choose to. It all about what is most likely.

Because I have spend so much time with Stenacron I can be very sure on them, but them only, and a few others that I have studied at my desk.
 
So here is one. Hatched in the Catskills June 28. I know what it is. But a gorgeous mayfly needs to be immortalized on the web!image.jpg
 
I know the trout treat em like snickers bars with wings!!!!
Last good coffin fly fall i experienced was about five yrs ago, lordville....
Basically too many naturals.....Had to twitch your dead spinner imitation
to make it stand out to the fish, only way to get them to consider your offering....
Nice picture:)
 
Yup guttalatta. Took the pic with the iPhome. Late hatch for most of the WBD but Stillesville is ka ka ka cold. Sadly they were ignored by the fish but we got'em on sulphurs. They are certainly one of the best looking May flies.

My favorite fly are the Isos however. Those bows in the Main can't seem to resist them. Most of you know they are called trout candy and for good reason. Love when the big bows set up in the riffs and slash and torpedo them particularly in a foot of water.
 
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