HEX HATCH TRIPS

SEASON DATES | June 15th-July 10th

Once a year, for a narrow window in midsummer, Northern Michigan produces one of the most remarkable dry fly fishing events in North America. The Hexagenia limbata hatch — Michigan’s legendary hex hatch — brings the largest mayfly in the Great Lakes region to the surface in massive numbers, and the biggest brown trout in the river come up to eat them. If you’ve never fished the hex hatch, nothing prepares you for it. The air fills with flies the size of your thumb. Fish that haven’t shown themselves all season materialize in the current, sipping confidently in the dark. Trophy brown trout that spend 364 days avoiding your best presentations suddenly become catchable — for a few hours, on the right night, if you’re in the right place. Massive mayflies blanket the surface, and trophy trout emerge from the depths, striking with explosive force under the cover of darkness. With a guide well versed in after dark fishing, you’ll navigate dark wooded corners and cast into the unknown, where every ripple could be the fish of a lifetime. This is an adrenaline-fueled, afterdark angling at it’s finest.

What to Expect

You’ll float down one of Northern Michigan’s famed rivers in Westley’s StealthCraft Bighorn drift boat, launching in the evening and fishing through dark. The hex hatch is exclusively a low-light and nighttime event — fish begin rising as the hatch intensifies after sunset and the best fishing often happens well after dark.

Expect to throw large dry flies — size 4 to 8 Hexagenia patterns — on a 9 foot 5 or 6 weight rod with a relatively short, stout leader. Presentation matters more than distance. Brown trout are educated fish in clear water, and even during the hatch they can be selective about fly profile and drift. Westley will read the rises, position the boat, and tell you exactly where to cast.

Why the Hex Hatch Matters

The Hexagenia limbata is the largest burrowing mayfly in North America. Its emergence triggers a feeding response from brown trout that no other hatch can replicate — fish that are otherwise nearly impossible to catch on dry flies become aggressive, surface-committed, and catchable on large patterns in open water. Fly anglers travel from across the country specifically for this two-to-three week window on Michigan’s northern rivers.

Northern Michigan is the premier hex hatch destination in the Midwest — with cold, spring-fed rivers, home to thriving wild brown trout populations that reach trophy sizes. Floating with a guide who knows which runs produce during the hatch, and when to be on them, is the difference between being in the right place and spending the evening watching bugs from the bank.

Who This Trip Is For

The hex hatch is a bucket list experience for serious dry fly anglers. You should be comfortable casting in low light and making accurate presentations to rising fish. If you’ve never fished the hex before, Westley will walk you through everything — fly selection, reading rises, timing the drift. Come ready to stay up late and fish hard.

The Flies

Hex dry flies are big — size 6 and 8 extended-body patterns that sit high on the surface. Westley ties his own hex patterns, including the West Side’s Glow Hex — designed specifically for visibility in low light while maintaining a natural profile on the water. Flies are provided with every trip and are also available in the shop.

What’s Included

All flies including Westley’s hand-tied hex patterns, rods, reels, leaders, and headlamps. Trips run from dusk through the hatch — typically 4 to 6 hours depending on emergence intensity.

Frequently Asked Questions

When exactly does the hex hatch happen?

• Timing varies year to year based on water temperature, but the window is typically late June through mid-July on the PM and slightly later on the Au Sable. Westley monitors conditions and will recommend the best dates when you book.

Is this a full-day trip?

• No — hex trips are evening and night trips. You’ll meet at dusk and fish into the early morning hours. Daytime trips can be added separately if you want a full day-and-night experience.

What if the hatch doesn’t happen the night of my trip?

• Hex emergence depends on weather conditions — warm, humid, overcast evenings produce the best hatches. If conditions are poor, mousing can be a great backup option. Please see our cancellation policy in the footer before booking.