modern Michigan dry fly · late 1970s or early 1980s
Hexagenia Limbata
Unverified origin The Backcast Fly Shop exists in Benzonia, but no public source describes this fly.
History
This standard drake-style Hex dun is tied to the Backcast Fly Shop in Benzonia, from the late 1970s or early 1980s. The tyer is not known. The Hex (Hexagenia limbata) is the largest mayfly on Michigan trout streams, and it hatches mostly after dark from late June into early July.
It follows the usual Michigan drake layout: moose tail, a two-tone deer-hair body ribbed in a crisscross, white calf-tail wings and a full hackle.
Materials
| Hook | Dry, sizes 4 to 8 |
|---|---|
| Tail | Moose hair |
| Body | Deer hair in two tones, flared at the tail end |
| Rib | Thread wound in a crisscross |
| Wings | White calf tail |
| Hackle | Grizzly, brown, or both |
Sources
- "Mayfly Species Hexagenia limbata (Hexes)." Troutnut.
- "Backcast Fly Shop." Fly Fishing Shops directory.
- Deschaine, T. Michigan Dry Flies archive.
Know more about this fly's history, or spot a mistake? Send a correction.
No photo yet. Every photo on michfly is of a fly tied for the site, so they're added a few at a time.
Original recipe cards for many Michigan patterns are kept at the Michigan Dry Flies archive, built by the late Tom Deschaine.