September is known for the Hexagenia. One evening a couple of years ago I was fishing with a Chugger on the Shenandoah River with success. I heard a disturbance downstream from me. Looking downstream I realized the Hexagenia hatch was very heavy. In one minute I couldn’t believe how many smallmouth bass were rising to feed on this hatch. This prompted me to put on a Mr. Rapidan Skater. I landed one bass after another until I was so cold that I had to stop fishing.
Where I see bass rising to feed on drys in water 4+ feet deep, I wade downstream to them and fish one on one. I slight fly-twitching action often brings strikes from bass that will not take a fly drifting naturally. Often below islands where the water is only 2-3 feet deep I see pods of more than a dozen bass feeding on this hatch. Then by using a very cautious approach and making long casts, I am successful.
The density and frequency of this hatch varies greatly so be observant. One evening it might be great and the next evening hardly any. Even with the unpredictable nature of the Hexagenia Mayfly hatch it can provide some of the finest smallmouth dry fly fishing of the season.