Michigan Flies

Flies / Nymph

Feenstra's Australian Possum Hex

A

Kevin Feenstra, Muskegon River

An articulated Hexagenia nymph from Feenstra's favorites: a size 10 rear hook of possum tufts and dirty yellow dubbing joined by 20 lb mono to a size 6 front hook with mono eyes, a brown hen-hackle leg pull and an Antron shellback. The wiggle of the two hooks does what a burrowing Hex nymph does in the drift. Spring steelhead on the Muskegon eat Hex nymphs, and it stays in play for browns through the July hatch.

#6–10Dirty yellow and brown
What the pattern looks like
Reference photos of the Feenstra's Australian Possum Hex tied by others, shared by their photographers. Not our flies; our own product photos replace these as they are shot.

Photo © Feenstra Guide Service, used with permission · Australian Possum Hex

Season
Months this pattern is in play across Michigan, derived from what it imitates.
  1. Jan
  2. Feb
  3. Mar
  4. Apr
  5. May
  6. Jun
  7. Jul
  8. Aug
  9. Sep
  10. Oct
  11. Nov
  12. Dec
Imitates

The naturals

Fish it for
SteelheadBrown troutRainbow trout (resident)

Setups

  • Indicator nymphing
  • Euro / tight-line nymphing
  • Chuck and duck
How it's tied
A
Australian Possum Hex. An articulated Hex nymph on two hooks. From the tier's published pattern sheet. Recipe by Feenstra Guide Service (2015).

Materials

Rear hook
Size 10 4XL streamer hook with a straight (flat) eye
Front hook
Size 6 egg hook
Thread
Yellow
Tail and gills
Australian possum fur off the skinTufts at the tail, mid-hook, front of the rear hook and over the joint.
Abdomen
Dirty yellow sparkle dubbingDubbed between the possum tufts on the rear hook and behind the eyes on the front hook.
Eyes
Black craft or mono eyes
Connection
20 lb monoGreen Maxima is very good.
Shellback
Brown Antron yarn
Legs
Webby brown hen hacklePulled over the eyes.

Steps

  1. 1.Tie in a tuft of Australian possum fur at the rear of the size 10 hook; it acts as the tail.
  2. 2.Dub a little dirty yellow fur to the middle of the hook.
  3. 3.Tie in another clump of possum, then dub more dirty yellow toward the front of the hook.
  4. 4.Tie in another clump of possum and finish the rear hook.
  5. 5.Start on the egg hook. Cover it with thread, bring the thread to the front and lash a pair of black mono or craft eyes on top.
  6. 6.Tie in a piece of 20 lb mono on one side of the hook. It must be very secure: crimp it beforehand to give the thread a bite, or add a small drop of instant glue.
  7. 7.Thread the rear hook onto the mono and lash it down on the other side of the hook, crimped or glued again. Tie in a clump of possum to cover the joint.
  8. 8.Tie in a piece of brown Antron yarn so it lies flat over the rear hook, then a brown hen feather by the tip over the yarn.
  9. 9.Dub dirty yellow dubbing between the rear of the hook and the eyes, and bring the thread in front of the eyes.
  10. 10.Pull the hen feather over the eyes, lash it down and trim the excess. It becomes the legs.
  11. 11.Pull the Antron yarn over the feather and tie it down. It becomes the shellback.
  12. 12.Finish the fly.

Fly Pattern Sheet: Australian Possum Hex (PDF) Transcribed from the guide service's two-page pattern sheet; the sheet lists materials in a paragraph, so parts are assigned from the steps.

Materials to buy
Everything one Feenstra's Australian Possum Hex takes, each item once: 9 items, plus 1 optional. Quantities are for a single fly. We do not sell components yet; when we do, these will link to them.

Hook and hardware

  • 4XL streamer hook, straight eye1

    Size 10

    Rear hook

  • Egg hook1

    Size 6

    Front hook

  • Craft or mono eyes1 pair

    Black

    Eyes

  • MonofilamentA short piece

    20 lb; green Maxima

    Connection

Feathers and fur

  • Australian possum furSeveral tufts

    Tail and gills

  • Hen hackle1 webby feather

    Brown

    Legs

Synthetics, flash and legs

  • Sparkle dubbingA few pinches

    Dirty yellow

    Abdomen

  • Antron yarnA length

    Brown

    Shellback

Thread and finish

  • Tying thread1 spool

    Yellow

    Thread

  • Instant glueoptionalA drop

    Connection

Sources