The event that fishers wait months for is the Hexagenia mayfly hatch. The hatch occurs in June across most Central Wisconsin trout streams, when mayflies hatch or emerge from trout streams. The adults gather in swarms for the purpose of mating and when complete fall into streams as spent mayflies called spinners. They attract the attention of hungry trout, which aggressively seek mayflies as a major food source. In turn fishers pursue the trout.
Fly fishing is the primary method used to fish the hatch and because the Hex conduct their spinner fall mainly in late evening it is largely a nighttime fishing experience that in some cases will last into the wee hours of the morning. Many fishers refer to this event as the Hex hatch. The Hex mayfly is not only the largest in size but when forming mating in swarms they do so by the tens of thousands and thereby assuredly produce the largest insect event of the year.
In preparation for the event, one of the first steps is fly selection. Selection of fly design that best mimics the features of the Hex mayfly. Fishers either tie their own flies or make purchases. Wild Rose had a fly shop many years ago, that carried a range of Hex flies, some of which still occupy a place in my fly box, among flies that there were shared with me, or those that I tied. My flies are copies of designs refined over years of experience by fishers and tiers with better skills than me, who graciously shared their experience. As the names of local experts will not be disclosed, neither will the fishing locations be disclosed. But any reasonably aware person observing DNR parking lots overloaded with vehicles late into a June night can assume something is afoot.
I have found these parking lot gatherings interesting for several reasons. In late afternoon the early comers start to arrive soon to be followed by more fishers as the time clock counts down to 9 p.m., the usual start of the spinner fall. There is not much talking among the car loads of fishers at this point because we are in competition for our “usual or best fishing spot”. The pace is fast and serious like a well-rehearsed procedure. After the last car door is slammed and everyone has dispersed to their posts the stillness of evening fills the air.
At post, we tick off the preliminary steps by watching nature’s clock: the calls of the yellow throat warbler become less frequent, robins sing their evening song, cedar wax wings catch a few dun emergers, dew drops form on grass tips, barred owls call and the whipper-wills start their repetitive cadence as darkness closes in. Then as if a silent switch is turned, thousands of Hex fill the air in a swarm that circulates in a counter clock wise rotation over the stream and adjacent shrubs and trees. Soon the swarm dips lower toward the stream, exhausted from mating the spent Hex fall to the stream. Trout begin to rise, smaller ones first to be followed the well-seasoned giant veterans of the stream. These latter risers are known by their size and sound. It is the deep inward flushing sound of water as they rise with open mouths taking spinners at the stream surface.
In the darkness it is this sound that is most sought by fishers. The other sounds of the night are lost in the concentrated effort of selecting which rising trout to target with their fly and much of their success is thereby apportioned among fishers. Its all about the mayflies and the sound of rising trout in the blackness of night.
The hours fly by and eventually the parking lots begins to be filled with conversation. The competition for location is past. Talk of success and queries of “How did it go for you?” are common conversation starters. In the depth of the darkness many of the conversations remain anonymous since it is difficult to discern facial features. In some cases these anonymous voices, heard year after year, become familiar but remain a mystery if we were to see each other in daylight.
To some, these happenings along Central Wisconsin streams may appear strange and somewhat mysterious, which is ok. But to Hex fishers, it is an experience to behold the unbounded mysterious wonders of our local trout streams.
