Anyone been Hex fishing?

[jnpcook]

Anyone been out fishing the Hex hatch? I will be out the 28th and 29th and was looking for any info on where the hatch is strongest now (or is it generalized along the river) on the Au Sable or Manistee. Also was thinking of fishing mainstream somewhere downstream of Wakely bridge or maybe the Conners Flats area. Is this area wadeable or do you need a canoe or boat? If so is the current to strong to paddle upstream there? (thinking about going downstream to a wadeable area and then paddling upstream after done with fishing). Any help will be greatly appreciated.

Thanks.

John

[JStarbrite]

I fished below Mio last weekend and found hex hatching upstream from 4001 bridge. Wading access can be found at the bridge, the canoe landing (you now have to pay $3 to park there)the Gabions camp area (just east of the landing off 4001 you will find a sign)or if you don't mind walking a lot of steps, the highbanks lookout area on the north side of the river off Ausuable road. This area does not get as much pressure as the grayling area, but the current is strong and some places unwadeable. Slacker water can be found further upstream (try the two track from the gabions) or canoe from McKinley to 4001(you will have to have a car spotted and use your own canoe or pay for an overnight trip because rentals must be off the river at 5:00pm)This streach holds some hogs, so it's worth a shot.

[WEEZER]

I fished the "Hex" hatch Fri, Sat and Sunday nights on the Mason Tract. Well I have tommarow night off and planned on fishing Monday and Tuesday nights as well but I am sitting in Saginaw now(Shows how well I did HUh?).
I saw 12 hexes last night before my flashlight went dead and I left. Talked to guys this morning that did well last night fishing in the same area as me. Apparenty the y got a decent emergence last night around 1:30.(WAAAAAAAy after I was gone).
Here is my advice: Go to the Mannistee!Stay late! And If you do fish the South Branch bring Isonychia, cause that may be the only emergence/spinnerfall you see!
BTW the conners flats area is wadeable, but Most of the area is private. You may want to bring the canoe and float from Conner's to Mcmaster's bridge. It looks like really good water.
~Rick

[classicrod]

I fished the Manistee Tuesday.(June 27) There was a outstanding spinner fall of Hex's that started well before dark and lasted until about 11PM.
The fishing was great with many good fish feeding. My largest was a nice 18" Brown my partner got a 17incher and we both caught several more in the 14-16" range. we stayed until midnight but didn't see any hatching duns. It did get quite cool that may have been why we saw nothing hatching.

Tight Lines
Ron

[WEEZER]

Classicrod, Do you fish the Man. often? I have yet to try that river , however I plan on heading that way Saturday night. Do you think it will be going strong still or should I go with my backup plan and head to the Big Man for Scams and Caddis activity?
It's odd! I fish more than anyone I know and I have yet to hit a hatch of any type other than caddis! Missed the Hendricksons by a week, Never saw a good sulpher fall, Missed a huge Brown Drake fall by two nights, And Missed the biggest Hex fall that my buddies have ever seen by 1 stinking night!!!!!! Man I am pathetic!!!!! Oh well I guess I havta fish more often so I can increase my odds of hitting a good Hatch :)

Fished the Manistee on Thursday, Friday and Saturday night, 6/30-7/1, and each night the hexes got fewer and fewer though the nights got warmer and warmer. Go figure! Thursday we saw a decent amount of hexes, some big stones and one fire-fly. Friday we could count on two hands the number of hexes we saw but the sulpher fishing (or whatever bright, white fly it was) was fantastic. On Saturday night we saw maybe five hexes, all of them in the air got nailed by Cedar Waxwings which is a way cool sight. The firefly's were out in force as were the mosquito's. We stayed out until about midnight each night and the best fish was on saturday night, an over 20" brown.

[jnpcook]

Fished the 28th and 29th but really didn't see much of a hatch. The first night we fished on the Manistee at Yellow Trees. My friend saw a few hex and some small fish feeding for about 15 minutes and then nothing. I was farther downstream from him and saw no Hex. The 2nd night we tried the Au Sable at the Canoe Campground near Grayling. Waited but no Hex. It sure was chilly out there both nights. We only stayed til maybe 11 or 11:30 and then went in. There were some small fish rising to sulphurs both nights.

John