"When Big Bugs Hatch..."

Here's a great article that tells you all about the Hex Hatch...Great info if you plan on tying on one of these flies to your line.

-Michael

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The Hex Is On:

"The largest of the mayflies, for all you Latin lovers, is the Hexagenia limbata, commonly referred to as the Hex. These giant yellow mayflies inhabit lakes and the slow, meandering sections of some rivers.

This is an extremely fickle hatch. Hexes are even more sensitive to weather than green drakes or stoneflies. I would advise against loading up the truck for your big Hex adventure until you've called a few fly shops or talked to other anglers about the condition of the hatch.

The nymph of the Hex spends daylight hours buried in mud. A couple of hours before dark they start to move about and feed. Fish a weighted nymph just off the bottom underneath a strike indicator. Using a jigging motion, lift the fly just off the bottom and then allow it to resettle in the silt.

Just before the sun kisses the horizon, adult mayflies begin hatching. Forget about light presentations on light tippets. A big, cumbersome Hex makes quite a commotion on the surface. Let the fly sit, and then twitch it periodically to imitate the struggling of the naturals. Since you're fishing at or near dark, there is no reason to fish a light tippet. Start with a 2X leader and work your way to smaller tippets if you get refusals.

Cripple patterns are extremely effective when imitating the Hex. The Quigley Cripple on a No. 8 hook is a good choice. For a standard adult pattern, the only one I have relied on is an extended-body Parachute on No. 6 and No. 8 hooks.

Most dry-fly action takes place at or after dark. Be sure to check local regulations before fishing at night. Always bring a headlamp and plenty of mosquito repellent when fishing a Hex hatch. -- Justin Karnopp "