Burk’s Hexagenia Nymph

Burk’s Hexagenia Nymph

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Tying Instructions

1.Cover the hook shank with thread and wrap weighted wire from 1/8 inch behind eye to just in front of the tail. Flatten the wire.

2. Tie in Tail, Back, and Ribbing.

3. Select a wide aftershaft feather from a Ringneck Pheasant body feather. Tie the aftershaft by the tip, facing forward in front of the wingcase tie-in.

4. Dub the abdomen with a good taper and somewhat heavy. Abdomen covers up to the 3/4 shank length.

5. Bring aftershaft forward over top of abdomen.

6. Follow that by bringing the Turkey strip forward forming the back.

7. Wrap wire rib through dubbed abdomen and aftershaft. Tie-off securely.

8. Tie on another wider turkey tail section for the wingcase. Dub the thorax continuing the abdomen taper.

9. Tie on a hen saddle feather and wrap it 3-4 times for the legs. Gather the legs and position the fibers along the side and underside of the hook. Wrap the thread to secure the legs at a 180 degree sweep.

10. Pull the wingcase over the top and secure. Form Head and Whip Finish.

Materials to Order Material, click the link
Hook	TMC 200R #4-8
Thread	Danville Yellow 6/0
Ribbing	Copper Wire
Body	Pale Yellow Haretron
Thorax	Pale Yellow Haretron
Tail	Gray Marabou
Back	Mottled Oak Turkey Tail
Gills	Gray Pheasant aftershaft
Wingcase	Mottled Oak Turkey Tail
Legs	Mottled Natural Brown Hen Cape

Andy Burk

Burk’s Hexagenia Nymph

This is a pattern designed by Andy Burk. Often, the first question that pops up with this pattern is, what is an “aftershaft”? An aftershaft feather is the smaller feather that is directly behind the dominant feather on a cape. It is intended to give additional insulation to the bird. Aftershaft feathers vary in size and shape, depending upon the bird. Some earlier patterns referred to this feather as a “filoplume” in error. The aftershaft is tied on top of the hook, not wrapped. Form the abdomen first, then pull the aftershaft over the top of it.

Burk’s Hexagenia Nymph imitates the nymph of a Hexagenia mayfly (big yellow may). These nymphs have large gills along the abdomen, and one of the keys to this fly’s effectiveness is the aftershaft pheasant “gills.”
Hexagenia nymphs burrow into the silty bottom of some lakes and slow-moving rivers. They are rarely available to trout until they start to hatch.

The hex hatch starts after sunset, but a few hours before duns start appearing on the surface, the nymphs become active and are sometimes taken by trout. So a couple of hours before sunset, drop this fly near the bottom and use a lift-and-settle retrieve. Once the hatch is underway, try retrieving the nymph quickly to the surface.