Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - May/June 2013 - 10
Fishing the Laid Back Hex
by Carl Haensel
photos by the author
Long ago on a dark, cloudy summer evening, I was walking
back to my car after a successful day of fishing. It had been a
long day. Many fish had been caught, and my thoughts were
only of a cold drink, something to eat and the drive home.
As I walked along the bank of the river, I heard a splash that
sounded like a rock being thrown in the water. I looked over
at the dissipating circles as they edged toward the bank. It
couldn’t have been a trout. No way. I sat down and watched.
As I sat there, mayflies the size of small sailboats magically
appeared on the river. They floated with the winding current,
taking flight as their wings dried. Then, over on the far side
of the river, the big fish rose again. It was larger than any
fish I had seen the entire day, let alone caught. All thoughts
of dinner and sleep evaporated from my head. There was
fishing yet to be done.
This was my first
introduction to the mayflies
of the Hexagenia genus. Hex
mayflies are huge, lumbering
meals-on-wings for trout, bass
and other gamefish. Including
more than six different
species, they comprise some
of the largest mayflies in
North America. There are a
number that make their home
in Pennsylvania including the
species atrocaudata, rigida
and limbata. These mayflies
go by many common names
including green drake, brown
drake, dark green drake, big
slate drake and more. If you
have the good fortune of being
on a trout stream when hex
This large Hexagenia mayfly was kind enough to pose for a photograph on an overcast day.
mayflies are hatching, they
While they can hatch in the daytime, mayflies of the genus Hexagenia are usually found out and
can bring out the biggest
about near dusk and after dark.
10
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater • May/June 2013
PFBC Facebook: PaFishandBoat
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - May/June 2013
Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - May/June 2013
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - May/June 2013
Straight Talk
Table of Contents
Fishing Mountain Streams with Minnows
Tying the Laid Back Hex
Your Fishing Field Guide
Paddle Streams of Northwest Pennsylvania
Paddling “The Other” Youghiogheny
Ride-in Fishing
Pennsylvania Shad Fishing
Best Pumpkinseed and Bluegill Lakes of Northwestern Pennsylvania
Stand-up Paddleboarding–Floating, Fishing and Fun
Tying it Together: Teaching Children the Art of Fly Tying
Pennsylvania Fish & Boat Commission Mentored Youth Trout Day
Let ‘em Catch Bait
Share the Knowledge, Fish for Free
Satisfaction in a Different Opening Day Experience: The Trout Angler Count
Pre-Season Motor Maintenance
Letting the Wind do the Work
The Incredible Sinking Soft Stickbait
Recap of 2012 Pennsylvania Boating Fatalities
Do-it-yourself Fish Finder
Notes from the Stream
Life on the Edge: Pennsylvania’s Endangered Eastern Massasauga Rattlesnake
Reflecting on the Water
Currents
Angler’s Notebook
Fishin’ from the Kitchen
Cast & Caught
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - May/June 2013 - CT1
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - May/June 2013 - CT2
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - May/June 2013 - Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - May/June 2013
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - May/June 2013 - Straight Talk
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - May/June 2013 - 3
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - May/June 2013 - 4
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - May/June 2013 - Table of Contents
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - May/June 2013 - Fishing Mountain Streams with Minnows
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - May/June 2013 - 7
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - May/June 2013 - 8
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - May/June 2013 - Tying the Laid Back Hex
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - May/June 2013 - Your Fishing Field Guide
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - May/June 2013 - 11
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - May/June 2013 - Paddle Streams of Northwest Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - May/June 2013 - 13
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - May/June 2013 - 14
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - May/June 2013 - 15
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - May/June 2013 - Paddling “The Other” Youghiogheny
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - May/June 2013 - 17
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - May/June 2013 - 18
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - May/June 2013 - 19
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - May/June 2013 - Ride-in Fishing
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - May/June 2013 - 21
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - May/June 2013 - Pennsylvania Shad Fishing
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - May/June 2013 - 23
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - May/June 2013 - Best Pumpkinseed and Bluegill Lakes of Northwestern Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - May/June 2013 - 25
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - May/June 2013 - 26
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - May/June 2013 - Stand-up Paddleboarding–Floating, Fishing and Fun
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - May/June 2013 - 28
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - May/June 2013 - Tying it Together: Teaching Children the Art of Fly Tying
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - May/June 2013 - 30
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - May/June 2013 - 31
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - May/June 2013 - Pennsylvania Fish & Boat Commission Mentored Youth Trout Day
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - May/June 2013 - 33
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - May/June 2013 - Let ‘em Catch Bait
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - May/June 2013 - 35
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - May/June 2013 - Share the Knowledge, Fish for Free
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - May/June 2013 - 37
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - May/June 2013 - Satisfaction in a Different Opening Day Experience: The Trout Angler Count
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - May/June 2013 - 39
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - May/June 2013 - Pre-Season Motor Maintenance
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - May/June 2013 - 41
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - May/June 2013 - Letting the Wind do the Work
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - May/June 2013 - 43
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - May/June 2013 - The Incredible Sinking Soft Stickbait
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - May/June 2013 - 45
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - May/June 2013 - Recap of 2012 Pennsylvania Boating Fatalities
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - May/June 2013 - 47
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - May/June 2013 - Do-it-yourself Fish Finder
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - May/June 2013 - 49
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - May/June 2013 - Notes from the Stream
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - May/June 2013 - 51
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - May/June 2013 - Life on the Edge: Pennsylvania’s Endangered Eastern Massasauga Rattlesnake
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - May/June 2013 - 53
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - May/June 2013 - Reflecting on the Water
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - May/June 2013 - Currents
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - May/June 2013 - 56
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - May/June 2013 - 57
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - May/June 2013 - 58
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - May/June 2013 - 59
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - May/June 2013 - 60
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - May/June 2013 - 61
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - May/June 2013 - Fishin’ from the Kitchen
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - May/June 2013 - Cast & Caught
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - May/June 2013 - 64
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - May/June 2013 - Cover3
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - May/June 2013 - Cover4
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