Hex Hatch Info.

Hi All :cool:

I'm new to the Michigan North.. I've been here 4 years, and since I've gotten into fly fishing I've heard of the famous Hex Hatch of the Ausable..

Can anyone provide some info.. for a newbie like me. I'd love to experience this unique phenomenon. :D

[HATCHBOMB]

Hexagenia Limbata--the country's largest mayfly. Brings out the biggest fish in the rivers who may otherwise not be cooperative on the surface fly. Many will be tight lipped about this annual occurrence. If you can get the time off in late june, spend it up there. It is a spotty hatch, and you may spend many nights on the river without even seeing the bugs. Trick is learning how to identify the behavior of the environment surrounding this hatch. I'd tell you all about it, but I'm still trying to figure it out myself...

HATCHBOMB

Thanks..

I plan to be in the UP (Brevort) July 12th-16th..As I gather, the hatches are about 1-2 weeks behind in the UP...

If I am calculating correctly, I will catch the hex hatch in the UP when I am there..?? Are my assumptions correct?

If so, I'm very excited about being able to fish the hex hatch, even though it's not the AuSable..

Anyone's input??
:confused: :confused: :confused:

[Sturgeon-man]

I'm assuming since you'll be in Brevoort you'll be checking out the Carp. I know abosolutely nothing about the bug hatches on the Carp but if you're looking for hexs, look for muddy (soft) banks as the big mayfly larvae tend to burrow in it. I'm not an entomologist but the stretches that get the best hatch action on the AuSable and Manistee tend to be in the slower, softer stretches of the rivers. On the Manistee try CC Bridge - when you hit it right it will be combat fishing though. Steak out you're stretch early in the evening and be prepared to stay late as hitting a spinner fall provides feeding frenzys that the hatch doesn't compare to.

[fishinlk]

Hatchbombs right, hunting the hatch is almost as much of a challenge as hunting the fish but once you've caught it your hooked! Here's a good example on the spotiness at times,. I was covered in a true blanket spinner fall and my buddies 3 bends down river hardly had a bug hit the water. It's all a part of the game.
Conditions,
Generally speaking for LP conditions your going to be waiting for mid-late June daytime watertemps consistantly in the 68-69 degree range at 6-7 pm with night time air temps staying around mid 60's or higher, the hotter and humid the better. A good book you can pick-up if you really want to read up on these bugs is called "The fabulous Hexagenia". It's pretty informative, covers all three subspecies and has several different fly patterns in it also. You should be able to find it in the Grayling area shops.

[StreamAddict]

Thanks for the info...I'll look that book up on Amazon.com

Note to all: My new user name..FYI

Thanks again.

[WEEZER]

The hex hatch is the coolest hatch of the year yet it is also the the biggest pain in the ****.
The key is:
1. be there during a spinnerfall or haevy emergence
2. be on the right stretch of river suring a spinnerfall
sounds easy huh? it's not. it's truly a guessing game. so far I haven't been on the river when the action was hot....same old story "shoulda been there yesterday, should have stayed an hour later...should have been a mile down river!! Blah blah blah
Don't get me wrong though,,,,,my summer vacation will be spent chasing the hex.
so far I have scouted out 5 major spots that I plan on fishing during hex season. Look for muck, deep water with log jams or possibly some good cover and a ripple and you have found your splace...just make sure you have a lot of muck nearby.