The problem with Hexagenia

[articulate leech]

Last night and a couple weeks ago I was fishing the Hexagenia hatch at Merrill. My buddies and I got a lot of hits on a size 8 Hex imitation tied with yellow foam, elk hair wing, and yellow hackle. The problem is that although the fish slam the fly, the hookup rate is about 1/10 hits. It's like the fish can't get it into their mouths (though these aren't small fish) or they're just batting at it. What do you all think? Is there a way to tie a Hex imitation that will get more hookups?

[MTL]

I had a similar issue with BWOs fishing mid winter. It took me about 3 hours of frusteration to figure out that they were almost always double hitting it -- they would actually do something on the surface (I am assuming getting the wings wet or something) and then go back into the feeding lane behind the fly and do a normal take on the second "rise." It was weird, but I got the hookup rate up to about 80% when I stopped trying to set on the initial strike. Hell, they were a pod of large resident rainbows with PhDs in frusterating fishermen -- maybe they were checking to see if It was a fly :smile:

[Splash]

I had the same problem there a couple of years ago fishing a good looking extended body pattern. Fish were just smashing the fly constantly but I wasn't hooking up. After a particularly viciuos hit where I felt the fish briefly, I checked my fly to see what was wrong. I found the extended part of the body twisted around the hook gape and pointing toward the eye of the hook. I was wondering "what in the...". Then I remembered hearing or reading something about fish sometimes sinking flies on the first go around and then turning right back around to eat them. I put on a standard pattern and while the fish did not hit with the same frequency or vigor, my hook ratio improved greatly.

Don't know if this is the same thing you are experiencing but thought I would share anyway.

[Wind Knot]

I thought it was just me. I am glad to hear others have experienced the same thing.

[stoneflyguy]

I've caught 8 inch cutthroat on a 1-0, 2-0, 3-0 hook and had no problem hooking them. Yes the Hex is a big fly and there are several ways the fish take them and it's not always at the surface. One way is to not just fish the spinner Hex but try using a cripple or a emerger. You can also use a still born Hex. These flies will catch just as many fish. Thius may sound funny but I will guarantee more hook ups, use a still born or cripple and strip it in very small stripps just enough to creat ripples but still pulling to you. You will make fish look at your fly and while pulling to you creat counter movement. If a fish knocks your fly under the surface srip it in stead but just fast enough to keep it under the surface. The fish will usually hit it even more aggresivly and always hook themselves. I have caught fish slow trolling a cripple. The fish do try to knock the Hex down and feed on it under the surface. These are just some things I have learned over the years and work for me. Good luck and maybe I'll see ya up there. :cheers:

[Blue Tip Spinner]

i have witnessed yellowstone cutts "nosing" flies (large hopper imitations) on Sleugh (Sp?)creek a few years ago. these were large fish that would have no problem gobbling these things down. they would initially hit the fly on the surface then come back (sometimes) and eat it.

i don't set the hook anymore till i feel the weight of the fish on the line when i dry fly fish.

[float2ber]

I've noticed this happens each year toward the end of the hex hatch season and each year I try to solve the problem. Switching to cripples, using a smaller fly, trimming the tail shorter, keeping slack out of the fly line, skipping the fly across the water, drowning the fly, using larger gaped hooks, blah blah blah..... Try different tactics to see what works best for you. But I agree, it's frustrating.