Every river offers something unique for the fly angler be it a special season of the year, a breed of fish, a style of fishing or an insect hatch. Fall River certainly offers a seasonal experience. I enjoy Fall for it’s style. Not many trout streams allow an angler to really cast a fly rod like Fall does. Fall River’s style is just that, a fly casters river. The chance to catch rainbows on a dry fly is ever present from sun up until the wind blows. What really sets Fall River apart is a certain insect hatch that puts every rainbow on a shark like feeding frenzy. All the locals know about this hatch and can be found presenting dry flies in between the work of herding cows, plowing fields and running the local fly shop. This hatch , referred to as the “Hex Hatch”, occurs not in the morning, but around 9:00 PM. Hexagenia Limbata is the biggest of mayfly’s and provides a key source of food to the rainbows we chase after on Fall River. Watching your #6 tall-winged dry fly on the water is easy in the evening light. Whats hard is identifying your fake presentation amongst all the naturals and controlling your nerves as fish thrash, splash and gulp down emergers and duns right next to the boat!
Fall River Rainbow taken on a #14 Parachute PMD
This special hatch doesn’t last long. Typically, the first occurrence is in early June, sometimes late May, after more than a few warm, sunny days. The event itself clocks out after 9:38PM. But, the evening hex hatch isn’t a one trick pony, lots of fishing precedes the signature event. Many times, the caddis and baetis hatches that occur between 6:30 PM and 8:30 PM provide more catching and relasing than the Hex hatch does!
Everyone has been waiting and talking about the Hex hatch over the past couple weeks. We have been wondering when the weather will warm up, when the rain will stop and when will the sun come out! I can’t complain about the fishing at all when we have had consistent PMD and caddis hatches. I am happy to write that summer appears to be at the doorstep of the Fall River Valley and yes, I found Hex’s coming off the water and trout attending the banquet of emergers and duns two nights ago. It’s on!
Expect this hatch to occur nightly in various stages of intensity through July. If you would like to fish it with me, call The Fly Shop at 800-669-3474. I have plenty of openings in July.
Chris, Nice peice on the Hexegenia Hatch on Fall River. I’m just trying to figure out how you fish in the dark. Sounds like fun. – Walt
We use night vision….seriously though, the evening light reflects off the surface of the water as we face west. The profile of your dun, and it’s big, can be seen until 9:30, after that we use Jedi skills. It really is incredibly fun!