Gray’s Hex Dun

Materials

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Hook Daiichi 1710 #8
Thread Danville Pale Yellow 6/0
Body Yellow Hare-tron
Thorax Yellow Hare-tron
Ribbing Medium Gold Wire
Shuck Yellow Antron Yarn
Wing Bleached Elk Hair
Hackle Grizzly dyed Yellow
Hex Dun
Hex Dun

Gray’s Hex Dun

Gray’s Hex Dun is designed by Lincoln Gray, Manager of Sierra Stream and Mountain in Chico, CA . Lincoln operates a stillwater fly fishing school on Lake Almanor and has been developing a series of hex patterns based upon his 20 years of fishing this lake. Most of the patterns have been a collaborative effort between Lincoln and his twin brother, Lance.

Hexagenia Mayfly

The Hexagenia mayfly is one of the largest mayflies in the United States. Typically they are in the size 4 to 8 range. They have a large yellow body that trout that excites the trout for an easy meal. The Hex nymphs emerge from lake bottoms during the night usually just after dusk. Anticipating the hatch, you start by nymph fishing. But, the hatch does not really start until about 9:00 to 10:00 pm when the nymphs emerge and the duns start to appear.

Presenting the Hex Dun

Gray’s Hex Dun is fished as a dry fly which is cast ahead of surface-feeding trout when the duns are present. It may be dark so you need to cast in the general direction of where you hear the feeding fish. If the fly isn’t taken after a few seconds, Lincoln prefers to provide a subtle twitch to the fly to imitate a struggling hex during the hatch. These are big mayflies and they often struggle a few seconds before taking off into the dark sky. The flag of Bleached Elk Hair on the pattern provides a good sighting object within the dusk evenings.