Late Winter Mayfly

[Tom Butler]

Bathroom wall near a slick below a swift current reach. 1/2" long body, two tails. I'm thinking Rhithrogena, March Brown.

 

[Draketake]

I think you are right. I saw one here on the Middle Deschutes last week.

Early for here but honestly we have not had a winter,

 

[FinLuver]

Bathroom wall near a slick below a swift current reach. 1/2" long body, two tails. I'm thinking Rhithrogena, March Brown.
View attachment 179036

Well March is just around the corner…

 

[Taxon]

Hi Tom-

Rather than being of genus Rhitrogena, I believe this male subimago to be of genus Ameletus, perhaps (but not necessarily) Ameletus vernalis. From which county, and what date did it emerge?

 

[Tom Butler]

Hi Tom-

Rather than being of genus Rhitrogena, I believe this male subimago to be of genus Ameletus, perhaps (but not necessarily) Ameletus vernalis. From which county, and what date did it emerge?

Good evening. I was February 24th, Touchet river near Dayton.

 

[Taxon]

Thanks, Tom.

Based on it having emerged from the Touchet River, it is probably more likely to be Ameletus celer than it is to be Ameletus vernalis.
Please see: WA Mayfly Distribution - By County. Then, click on the blue hyperlink for Columbia County,

 

[Tom Butler]

Thanks, Tom.

Based on it having emerged from the Touchet River, it is probably more likely to be Ameletus celer than it is to be Ameletus vernalis.
Please see: WA Mayfly Distribution - By County. Then, click on the blue hyperlink for Columbia County,

I appreciate the feedback. For years I noticed at a point each winter my March Browns and hare’s ears flies increasingly became the best fly. Now I'm beginning to know why and put it all together. This type of knowledge helps as I like to fish nymphs and knowing about when and their habits before I can see adults has made for more productive fishing time.

 

[Crawbugger]

Bathroom wall near a slick below a swift current reach. 1/2" long body, two tails. I'm thinking Rhithrogena, March Brown.
View attachment 179036

March brown.

 

[kmudgn]

I am unsure if that is a late winter Mayfly, or an early spring Mayfly.

That being said, if I saw that fly where I live in NH at this time of year, I would guess it is the Eastern March Brown (Maccaffertium vicarium) . The speckled wings are indicative of the March Brown and it is too early for Hendrickson. I could also guess at Ameletus as that is another early candidate as their hatches do tend to overlap somewhat.

Either way, a dark fly like a Purple Haze should work as that is all that really is important.
Ameletus




Eastern March Brown

 

[Taxon]

Hi Tom-

I submitted your excellent photo to BugGuide, just to verify that the opinions I had expressed earlier were accurate. This was the response.

 

[Tom Butler]

Hi Tom-

I submitted your excellent photo to BugGuide, just to verify that the opinions I had expressed earlier were accurate. This was the response.

Thank you for the followup! I did find the wings quite striking, as well as the early appearance. The more I know the better observer I become. Tom