A large Hexagenia nymph with a marabou tail, dubbed body, turkey back and soft aftershaft gills.
Andy Burk’s large Hexagenia nymph uses turkey and pheasant aftershaft to suggest the back and gills of a burrowing mayfly nymph. This starting dressing follows Bill Carnazzo’s published materials and sequence.
Work through the numbered steps in order, using the materials list and written proportions as your guide.
01
Prepare the hook
Clamp the hook and, if desired, bind a short run of lead-free wire where the thorax will sit. Cover the shank and weight with pale thread, leaving space behind the eye.
Bench note Keep the weighting short so the abdomen can taper naturally.
02
Tie the tail and back materials
Secure a short gray marabou tail at the bend. At the same point, attach a strip of mottled turkey, copper wire and pheasant aftershaft for later use.
Bench note Keep the aftershaft and turkey as loose working lengths; do not pull them over the body yet.
03
Dub and cover the abdomen
Dub a tapered pale-yellow abdomen, stopping ahead of the midpoint. Draw the aftershaft over the top, then pull the turkey strip over it and secure both at the front of the abdomen.
Bench note Do not crush the soft aftershaft fibers under tight wraps.
04
Rib and set the wingcase
Wind the copper wire forward in spaced turns through the back materials. Tie in a second, slightly wider turkey strip at the front of the abdomen, pointing rearward for the future wingcase.
Bench note Use deliberate open turns to retain the gill texture.
05
Form the thorax and legs
Tie in a prepared mottled hen saddle feather. Dub a full pale thorax, then draw the hen fibers forward along both sides and secure them with their tips angling rearward.
Bench note Keep the legs sparse enough to reveal the thorax.
06
Close the wingcase
Pull the turkey strip over the thorax and legs, tie it off behind the eye, form a small head and whip finish.
Bench note Check that the hook eye remains clear.
Beyond the bench
On the water.
Present it low in still or slow water before a Hexagenia emergence. As nymphs rise toward the surface, test shallower presentations. Match the size and weight to local conditions.