classic Michigan nymph · mid-1970s
Schmidt's Hex Nymph
Likely origin Date and purpose come from Fly Fishing the Sierra; Schmidt's own video confirms the attribution. No independent Michigan source found for the date.
History
Ray Schmidt, who ran Schmidt Outfitters in Wellston for many years, tied this Hexagenia nymph in the mid-1970s as a steelhead fly for Michigan rivers. It became one of his signature patterns and later spread as far as the northern Sierra, where anglers used it for Hex hatches in the 1980s.
Schmidt demonstrates it in his own series on classic Great Lakes patterns.
Materials
| Hook | Curved nymph (TMC 200R), size 6 |
|---|---|
| Thread | Light olive 6/0 |
| Weight | Lead-free wire, 12 to 15 turns |
| Tail | Pheasant tail fibers |
| Shellback / wing case | Pheasant tail fibers pulled over the abdomen and thorax |
| Abdomen | Golden-stone dubbing, wire rib |
| Thorax | Same dubbing, fuller |
| Eyes | Mono nymph eyes |
| Legs | Olive-dyed partridge |
Tying video
Episode 26 - Tying the Schmidt's Hex Nymph by Ray Schmidt
Sources
- "Schmidt's Hex Nymph." Fly Fishing the Sierra, January 12, 2024.
- "Ray Schmidt: Classic Great Lakes Fly Patterns YouTube." Northern Illinois Fly Tyers, December 2018.
- Schmidt, R. "Episode 26: Tying the Schmidt's Hex Nymph." YouTube.
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.