Mayflies in Pittsburgh?

[sleyth]

Hi friends,
I live near downtown Pittsburgh and noticed a couple of bugs on my balcony - I live several blocks from the Mon and was wondering what these guys might be doing so far away from the river? They seem to resemble a Green Drake but that would surprise me given my location and proximity to the city.

 

[dudemanspecial]

Hexagenia. Comes off the Mon every year around the beginning of June.

 

[sleyth]

Hexagenia. Comes off the Mon every year around the beginning of June.

That makes sense - I wonder if the smallies key in on them...

 

[Dr.J 1952]

I’m not going to play entomologist but I live close to downtown and have seen clouds of huge mayflies at Pirates games on a summer evening. One time we’re sitting in an upper level area in right field closer to the river and there were swarms of them in the lights. These had more of a yellow body.

 

[TerrellBFly]

Saw them at Stage AE last June as well.

 

[dc410]

Definitely Hexagenia. I’ve seen them so heavy along the lower Susquehanna River that they totally break off some pretty good size riverside tree limbs from the shear weight of the multitudes of bugs accumulating on the foliage.

 

[albatross]

I've had great smallmouth fishing with Hexagenia on Slippery Rock Creek, I'd imagine smallies would take them anywhere. Pretty substantial meal...

 

[Broodstock]

We have some incredible Hex hatches on the big rivers here. I was out last night and saw several rises, but nothing consistent. The rock bass like to eat them, along with smallmouth.

 

[Bruno]

That makes sense - I wonder if the smallies key in on them...

yeah - fish downtown - when i lived and worked around there I kept a fly rod in my office. We would fish the mon warf at lunch. The carp fishing was great. I even met a homeless guy that flyfished. He would hang out on the river catchin carp. The boat ramp by the football stadium is a great place to throw a line.

 

[Chotty]

I agree with what people have already said, they are most likely Hex's. Usually start to see them this time of year around the city.