Head Lamp Lazer

Like to night fish for big trout? Introducing the new Nielson Head Ray. Results are "stunning"; guaranteed you'll leave the fly rod at home. No more stumbling around in the dark with a 9 1/2 foot fly rod bouncing into trees, weeds, and other assorted obstacles.

Just listen for a feeding fish, turn your head in that direction, point and shoot. The stunned fish floats easily to the net.

Hex Night #2

Come out, come out...where ever you are!

Hot and humid conditions had Tommy and I thinking we would have the perfect night for the "HEX" hatch. We were wrong about that, unless it happened around 2am. We fished ISO's on our way down to the spot we were posting up and caught a number of scrappy Brown and Brook trout. Cayenne also got to take your maiden voyage down the Upper Manistee in the drift boat. She actually did pretty well after her initial dive off the side of the HYDE towards a sweeper to try and retrieve a sunken log 15 minutes into the trip. We had a few duns on the water around 10pm and spinners up in the air for about an hour. They never seemed to fall like they did the previous night. If anyone has this BUG figured out please let me know!

Hex Night #1

Took my brother-in-law to the Upper Manistee River for the Hex Hatch last night. It was his first experience fishing at night. I think you quickly realized it's a bit different fishing with the lights off. We had good bugs and nice fish feeding from 10pm on. Although, we had a few showers come through, in between the rain fish started to feed again. Hopefully we'll get some more bugs tonight while Tommy and I fish the same stretch of water.

Med School Hex

Chris D. who is helping out at the shop a bit got a fish of his life time on Thursday night.
27"-28" Brown...Chris hasn't had much time to fish since he's a first year Med Student at Michigan State. Nice Fish!!! Chris got the fish on Bear's clear wing Hex Spinner.

Upper Man Fishing Report - HEX?

Here is an up to date fishing report from Ed McCoay with Hawkins Fly Fishing
Ed has a few PRIME dates still available!
Give him a call and book a trip!

Ed McCoy - 27, 29, 30 & July 1,2
http://www.hawkinsflyfishing.com/RiverReports/ManisteeAboveTippy.php

Hex Report

"Hold On" Hex Fishing Is On!

Bugs are going on most of the rivers up North. Although, fishing conditions are far from perfect. The has been running HIGH the past 6 days along with the PM just getting hit with a bucket of water in the last 48 hours. Let's hope for the flows to start coming down by the weekend.
Here is a few shots from the past week of fishing on the Au Sable and Pere Marquett.
Besides Hex make sure you have in your box ISO's, Stone Flies and something big like a Frog or Mouse for after dark if the bugs don't show up.

It's on!

Grab your bug dope!
We'll have an updated report tomorrow.

Bear's Clear Wing Hex

Bear's Clear Wing Hex
Hook: 4X 4-8
Tail: Moose Body
Body: Hackle & Deer Body Hair
Post: White Foam Hackle
Wings: Plastic Bag
Head: Dubbing

LINK

Make sure you fish at least a 2x tippet with this fly since it will twist your tippet if not thick enough.

Hex Lite - Petzl E+Lite

Here is the best light we've found to date for Hex fishing. Light weight, durable and waterproof.
Enough Said. Ohhh yeah it also has a RED beam.
Get yours here - Click.Buy.Fish

Glow Baby Glow

Many of your Hex dry flies have Glow in the Dark materials added to the pattern to help you see them at night. On tip you can use is to pick up a UV LIGHT either at our shop or the grocery store. UV Lights charge the Glow material and make them stay illuminated 5X your normal head lamp.

X-Hex

Hook: 4X - 4 or 6
Tail: Moose Body & Hi-Vis
Body: Deer Hair & Hackle
Head/Wing: Deer Hair & Rubber Legs

This fly fishes well as an emerger or a dun. A great pattern when there is n0t a lot of bugs on the water yet.

Sitting, Waiting, Wishing - Hex

It's time to grab your head lamp, bug spray, 6wt, 1x tippet and favorite beverage for the river. Grab a set along the bank and wait. Hex is running a bit early this year due to the warmer temps. By the weekend Hex should be on the menu for a lot of the Northern Michigan Streams.