While our most anticipated guest (Mr. Hex) on the lake has not yet made an appearance, we are currently in the midst of two major insect hatches on Back Lake: Black Caddis and Brown Drakes. The picture of the brown drake above was taken this morning on our boat house.

The Black Caddis hatch is currently ongoing, and it is easily recognizable, as they buzz around the water in abundance, as caddis usually do, especially in the evening. Rises will be common, as the fish are keyed in on this plentiful hatch. However, lots of those rises appear to be closer in to shore (or maybe that’s just where I’m looking …), possibly meaning that bass are taking them more often than trout.

Black Caddis Fly Patterns: Black Caddis, Parachute Black Caddis

Brown drakes, being a larger meal than the abundant caddis, seem to be more desired by the trout. Much like the Hexagenia hatch, brown drakes make their appearance when the sun goes down, and they can come off quite heavy just before dark. It’s always fascinating to see multitudes of drakes flitting about the spruce trees at the lodge in the twilight before dark. They’re big in comparison to other mayflies, but are only a third of the size of a hexagenia.

Certainly, casting before dark is the preferred method, but trolling during the day with certain patterns to replicate the emergers can illicit responses too. A tan or olive Sparrow, Olive or Gray Hornberg and a Woodduck Heron in size 10 are decent representations of the emergers.

Brown Drake Fly Patterns: Brown Drake, Para Brown Drake, Gray Hornberg, Green Drake, Para Green Drake, Challenged Brown Drake, Sparrow (sz. 10 as emerger), Woodduck Heron (sz. 10, as emerger)

No, the mythical Green Drake hatch does not occur on Back Lake, but we’ve used flies representing them during the brown drake hatch. Perhaps it’s more important that the fly be the right size rather than the right color.

“Where, oh where is Mr. Hex now, oh where, oh where could he be?”

As noted before, the hexagenia hatch occurs after the brown drakes, especially after a period of hot and humid weather.

We haven’t had much weather like that lately, so hopefully it comes soon. Wind is also a big factor – if it’s blowing a gale out there right up to dark it can very difficult to not only see rising activity, but casting in it too. Clear, calm nights are best needless to say – let’s have some of that, soon!