Dry fly
Hexagenia
Large mayfly dry
TroutSurface
Big yellow-bodied mayfly dun imitation for the Hexagenia limbata hatch — the defining summer evening event on northern brook trout ponds and larger freestone rivers in Maine, the Adirondacks and the upper Midwest.
Fish this when
Warm, calm summer evenings on northern ponds and larger rivers when the big Hex duns and spinners are on the water, usually right at dusk.
Why it works
The Hex is the biggest mayfly a brook trout sees all year; its size triggers confident, splashy rises from fish that otherwise feed cautiously.
Naturals it imitates
large mayfly dun
Typical zone & fishable range
usually
Surface
Film
Subsurface
Deep
Setup sensitivity: medium
Quick facts
Tying difficulty
Intermediate