Favorite Mayfly Hatch

sundrunk

sundrunk

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Joined
Oct 26, 2006
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For me theres nothing like fishing over a robust hatch of little Olive mayflies. In the Spring time, large, hungry, trout eagerly rise on these tiny flys.

There are so many fantastic hatches; all offering the angler a different approach and presentation technigue.

What are some of you're favorite hatches to fish over. Wether it be the fly or the time of year conditions. we're talking mayflies only..
 
I have never met a hatch I couldn't fall head over heels in love with, but something there is about being able to watch the natural flopping about on the surface as it rides the drift and then seeing the shadowy form rise and take it that makes me prefer BIG mayflies. Put me down as a fan of the Green Drakes and March Browns, in reverse chronological order!
 
Clarks Creek has a nice hatch of large olive mayflies, I believe they may be the speckled dun that Meck speaks of. Anyway, it's the first hatch that has a spinnerfall in the late afternoon or evening in the Spring. I'm always graterful to those mayflies for starting the "after work" dry fly season every year!

(Look for them in the second half of April. But it's not a heavy hatch. Use a #14 or 16 Mr. Rapidann)
 
Not sure it qualifies as a hatch..but I love when the big stoneflies are on the water and trout can't resist that big meal. As Jack said, the bigger the better. But as long as there is SOMETHING hatching...I'm not going to be picky about what it is...
 
Wait, maybe my favorite mayfly hatch is the hexagenia hatch on the Connodoguinett. If the fish in that stream were trout, and not smallmouth, that stream would be in every outdoorsman's magazine and have flotillas of guideboats! The hexes are so thick you can't dodge them, and the bass really hoover those things.
 
Sulphurs #1 because I've caught some of my biggest trout ever during the hatch. Plus it's the hatch I pretty much anticipate the most and then also fish it the most.

#2 is BWOs. First real mayfly hatch of the year to get things started. However, I can't decide if I like dries or nymphs better during this hatch. Also my biggest dry fly trout ever was on a BWO (See avatar).
 
I am fond of the Slate Drake because this hatch is usually sporadic all day and you don't have to hit it right on the head.

So long as Iso's hatch on a body of water you can use the SD to search for trout even if you don't see the bugs yet or any more.

For second I'd have to go with the sulfurs.

Ahhh spring.....come on spring!
 
The older I get - I'm 52 now - the more I appreciate the daytime hatches. Mostly because my eyes aren't what they used to be - I now need 2x bificals to fish and tie with.
waiting for the evening rise, and fishing into darkness, just doesn't thrill me as much anymore.
Anyway, I love the little BWO's of spring, and fall, now. Fishing thru out the afternoon is really great.
I also really look forward to the hatches of April - quill gordon, blue quill and hendrickson, which also hatch in the afternoon, with very user friendly spinner falls around 5-6 pm
 
Hendrickson but slate drakes are closing the gap as my favorite.
 
Sulphurs.

Nothing like watching the first few flotillas of sailboats for the season come down from the upstream riffle into my favorite pool in the universe. There aren't tons of fish, but a strong sulphur hatch is always good for 4 or 5.

And no, I won't tell you where it is, except that it's on a marginal Berks stream. If ya wanna fish it with me, I'd be happy to show you.

There are some tiny black bodied caddis that hatch on the tully too. As picky as those fish get, a tiny foam ant seems to slay them during that sporadic hatch.
 
Sulphers are the one for me! Followed by BWO's And third goes the that every hard to find Adams hatch!!! :-D :-D

JH
 
Mine is the adams hatch, or possibly the gold ribbed hare's ear. :lol:

Just kiding. I like the slate drake, because they come off so heavy on lycoming and for a few months. But the sulpher is a close second.

(sorry J, didn't mean to copy your adams joke).
 
1.. March Browns for me, love those big flys. We've had some good times fishing them on Clarks.

2.. Sulphers

3..Tan Caddies

Always good to get out in early spring and fished those stoneflies, to get things started for the year!

PaulG
 
Sulphurs! I also have noticed that as I age (not that I'm that old), I can't see as well, so those sulphurs stand out best for me.

As a matter of fact, over the last two weeks, its almost all I've been tying - CDC sulphur emergers and deerhair sulphur comparaduns.
 
Sulfurs are fine, but they limit you to the late hours.
I prefer the much longer Grannom and the early BWO. If I'm traveling anywhere far I'd rather have longer hatches during the day, not that I'm at all opposed to nymphing my brains out till the evening action starts up.
Mark
 
big stones, then caddis and Iso's....great time with all..... :-D
 
March Browns - come on heavy on my local streams anf the trout gprge themselvers! I caught 1 last year that had March Browns hanging out of its mouth!
 
Gotta like catching big fish on small dry's.. the trico it's a challange but a lot of fun
Buffalo
 
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