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Whiskers Yellowbanks

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A Poor, Dumb, Pass Lake
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Merle, WI

Mayfly Collapse
Jan 28^th, 2020 at 9:01am

While the researchers were concentrating on Hexagenias in Lake Erie a lot of people are reporting anecdotal decreases in the mayflies in their waters. I've noticed a few species that seem less common but since hitting the hatch just right is often difficult and the water conditions have also been less than ideal the last few years I hesitate to leap to any conclusions. That being said the Hex used to be pretty easy to find and I've gone a few years without seeing any strong emergence. Brown Drakes also seem to be scarcer. Sulphurs seem to be about the same but the concurrent emergence of March Browns on the "Mayfly" River, which used to be phenomenal; fishing March Brown duns and emergers from late morning until afternoon and then hitting the Sulphurs at sunset, have been very sparse the last few years.

So how about you? Any fewer mayflies seen? Any more hatching where you fish?

https://www.hatchmag.com/articles/iconic-mayfly-populations-have-declined-much-8...

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silverdoc

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Life is too short to fish
ugly flies.

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Gender: male

Re: Mayfly Collapse
Reply #1 - Jan 28^th, 2020 at 10:11am

Hex seem to have disappeared in several streams, yet are still TV newsworthy in the Mississippi. Stream "improvements" have scoured out the mud/marl beds in the former Hex areas, which now support caddis & Baetis(sp).
Sulphurs & yellow sallies seem abundant in the new constructed areas, even though rocks have been tumbled & appear sterile. Does the Gulf of Mexico have a Hendrickson hatch?

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Bob B
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tannin Dragon Fly Offline On Wisconsin! Posts: 1199	Re: Mayfly Collapse Reply #2 - Jan 28^th, 2020 at 8:38pm Troubling.
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Zed Dragon Fly Offline Zur Vergeltung Posts: 1598 Wankersville Gender:	Re: Mayfly Collapse Reply #3 - Jan 29^th, 2020 at 7:15am Whiskers Yellowbanks wrote on Jan 28^th, 2020 at 9:01am: anecdotal decreases in the mayflies in their waters. That's very much like what I've seen over the years. I do not even bother to tie any mayfly patterns anymore, and the only Hex I might see would be above a barn door.
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Jizzy Pearl

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I need some fuel to run.

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Re: Mayfly Collapse
Reply #4 - Jan 29^th, 2020 at 7:42am

Whiskers Yellowbanks wrote on Jan 28^th, 2020 at 9:01am:

That being said the Hex used to be pretty easy to find and I've gone a few years without seeing any strong emergence. Brown Drakes also seem to be scarcer.

Timing. I've been catching both hatches on the local stream. 2019 was phenomenal.

What I haven't caught lately are the Hendricksons, but I also attribute that to timing since it seemed when conditions seemed right and that they would be hatching (~1pm-4pm) I was stuck at work.

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I LOVE COWS! THEY PACK DOWN THE STREAM BANKS FOR US...THEN WE EAT THEM!!

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pj bamboo Caddis Fly Offline On Wisconsin! Posts: 64 Gender:	Re: Mayfly Collapse Reply #5 - Jan 29^th, 2020 at 8:48am Haven't seen Hendricksons in a long time. Plenty of olives around in sizes 12-24 though. Recent flooding here has reduced Hex numbers & pushed remaining hatches far downstream. Plenty of caddis around, though. Added: Olives, god bless 'em, once they get going they just putter along all season.
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silverdoc Dragon Fly Offline Life is too short to fish ugly flies. Posts: 705 Gender:	Re: Mayfly Collapse Reply #6 - Jan 29^th, 2020 at 9:14am pj bamboo wrote on Jan 29^th, 2020 at 8:48am: ... Recent flooding here has reduce Hex numbers & pushed remaining hatches far downstream. Paul: Down by the chiropractic office is one section I was thinking of. We also used to have a good hatch of Hex & Trico right in the WFSC campground.
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JGF

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I Love Scaly Rough Fish!

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Re: Mayfly Collapse
Reply #7 - Jan 29^th, 2020 at 11:42am

My experience has been that mayflies ain't what they used to be most places and craneflies have become the most dependable hatch on the Driftless streams I fish. Caddis are good on most streams too.

With the crazy weather and massive floods in consecutive years, it's difficult to assess how much is due to slow changes over time and how much are shorter-term disturbances.

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« Last Edit: Jan 29^th, 2020 at 11:43am by JGF »

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tannin Dragon Fly Offline On Wisconsin! Posts: 1199	Re: Mayfly Collapse Reply #8 - Jan 29^th, 2020 at 12:39pm We can't keep pooping in the tub in the name of the economy and not expect to ruin things. https://www.hatchmag.com/articles/caddisflies-mayflies-and-stoneflies-amongst-mo...
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Jizzy Pearl Dragon Fly Offline I need some fuel to run. Posts: 1590 Gender:	Re: Mayfly Collapse Reply #9 - Jan 29^th, 2020 at 1:25pm I think I would like to see a mosquito collapse
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D.A. Caddis Fly Offline Posts: 63 MN Driftless Gender:	Re: Mayfly Collapse Reply #10 - Jan 29^th, 2020 at 1:38pm I'd echo JGF's observations. On the MN side: fewer consistent mayfly hatches (Light Hendricksons completely gone in some areas). Tricos seem to be doing OK overall, IMO, but the caddis hatches are the most consistent. It gets old fishing a scud all the time, but the trout eat it.... -Dave
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JGF Dragon Fly Offline I Love Scaly Rough Fish! Posts: 1989	Re: Mayfly Collapse Reply #11 - Jan 29^th, 2020 at 2:00pm Jizzy Pearl wrote on Jan 29^th, 2020 at 1:25pm: I think I would like to see a mosquito collapse We've had so much rain in the Driftless last year we actually had mosquitoes to speak of. They suck!
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Jizzy Pearl Dragon Fly Offline I need some fuel to run. Posts: 1590 Gender:	Re: Mayfly Collapse Reply #12 - Jan 30^th, 2020 at 9:38am Yeah. It was bad up north. To the point at times that I just said **** it and quit fishing.
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