The Blue Dun Adults

Please note the Blue Dun pattern (immediately below) in various sizes will work as an imitation for all of these mayflies on all but the most selective trout.  If you are going trout hunting with a minimal number of flies be sure and bring the Blue Dun for your early season fishing.  For those of you who tie there are specific patterns below.  Click on the insect name above the fly to see a write-up on that species.

Blue Dun
Tied on Orvis Big Eye, Ring Eye Hook

 Hook
Thread
Wings
Tail
Body
Hackle		 Mustad 94840, sizes 10-20
Gray
Natural gray duck quill - upright and divided
Blue Dun hackle fibers
Dubbed muskrat fur - remove guard hairs
Blue Dun

Blue Winged Olive
Tied on Orvis Big Eye, Ring Eye Hook

 Hook
Thread
Wings
Tail
Body
Hackle		 Mustad 94840or 94838, sizes 12-20
Gray
Blue Dun Hackle tips tied upright and divided
Blue Dun hackle fibers
Dubbed olive fur - remove guard hairs
Blue Dun

Quill Gordons
Tied on Orvis Big Eye, Ring Eye Hook

 Hook:
Thread
Wings
Tail
Body
Hackle		 Mustad 94840, sizes 12-14
Gray
Lemon Wood Duck Fibers - upright and divided
Medium to Dark Blue Dun hackle fibers
Stripped peacock quill - coat with cement
Medium to Dark Blue Dun

Blue Quill
Tied on Orvis Big Eye, Ring Eye Hook

 Hook
Thread
Wings

Tail
Body
Hackle

 Mustad 94840, sizes 12-18
Gray
Natural light gray duck quill - tied upright and divided
Blue Dun hackle fibers
Stripped peacock quill - coat with cement
Blue Dun

Dark Hendrickson
Tied on Orvis Big Eye, Ring Eye Hook

 Hook:
Thread
Wings

Tail
Body
Hackle		 Mustad 94840, sizes 10-14
Gray
Lemon Wood Duck or Dyed Mallard - upright and divided
Dark Blue Dun hackle fibers
Dubbed muskrat fur - remove guard hairs
Dark Blue Dun

Light Hendrickson
Tied on Orvis Big Eye, Ring Eye Hook

 Hook:
Thread
Wings

Tail
Body
Hackle		 Mustad 94840, sizes 12-14
Tan
Lemon Wood Duck or Dyed Mallard - upright and divided
Medium Blue Dun hackle fibers
Pinkish fox fur - remove guard hairs
Medium Blue Dun
Blue Winged Olives, at least the early ones around here, are called Baetis Vagans (bait-iss) by those up on Latin and just plain old "Little Blue Winged Olives"  by the rest of us. Most years these guys are our 1st hatch of any consequence.   They are small (size 16/18), dark olive, have two tail, double wings (the secondary wing is small and hard to see), big red eyes (much like the Hendrickson), hatch midday (anytime from 11:00am on) and will start hatching while the water is still in the mid-forties.  They seem to like the cool, wet rainy days best and are often referred to as the "bad weather flies."  The fact that bad weather doesn't stop the hatch is something to keep in mind, because the cooler the weather, the longer the dun has to float on the water before lifting off to the safety of the bushes.  (true of all these mayflies) Being a small insect they have a hard time breaking the surface tension and so seem to seek out calmer water and smooth runs at hatch time.  Most of the nymph's life is spent in and around the rocks in medium to fast runs and riffles.  The hatch is generally short lived and, unfortunately, sometimes over before the fish find out it is happening.  Believe me it is frustrating to finally be there when the hatch is on and find out the fish missed it. However, if the hatch ends and the fish missed it stick around.  Move upstream from the run and check out the riffles above for a Spinner fall.  Spinners gather above riffles at about the same time of day as the hatch takes place and it often turns out the reason the fish missed the hatch is because they are upstream feeding on Spinners.  The females of this family leave nothing to chance - to make sure their eggs get where they belong they land on a rock, plant or other obstruction and crawl underwater to deposit their eggs.  Dedication.

Quill Gordons are called Epeorus Pleuralis (ee-pee-or-us ploor-alice)  by those up on Latin and just plain old "bigggggg dark mayflies" or "Iron Duns" by the rest of us. They are big (size 10/12), dark, have two tails (barred and equal to their body length), double wings, hatch midday (anytime from 1:00pm on) and will start hatching when the water is in the high forties but, don't look for them until at least 48 degrees.  Quill Gordon or Hare's Ear wet flies are good things to fish during a hatch because these insects hatch out on the bottom and make their way to the top as adults. So try tying on a wet, sinking it, letting it rise to the top and then twitching it once or twice instead of going right to a dry fly.  It works well.  These Spinners are also on the water about the same time as the hatch takes place.  Look for them over fast broken water between 12:00 and 2:00pm. Oh yea, unlike the others in the "Blue Dun" group these guys hatch out in riffles and pocket water - they are big brawny bugs and can really take it.  I like to see Quill Gordons on a stream or river because all the books mention that they can't tolerate pollution and yes! they are here in Shawmut.

Blue Quills are called Paraleptophlebia Adpotive (para-lept-oh-fleebee-uh adopt-tee-vuh)  by those up on Latin and just plain old "Blue Quills" by the rest of us. They are small (size 16/18), dark, have three tails (equal to their body length), double wings (the small hind wing is much lighter than the main wing), hatch midday (anytime from from 11:00 to 3:00) and will not start hatching until the water has been about fifty degrees for several days. These insects offer a great opportunity to hone those upstream dry fly techniques.  Try to mark a feeding fish - wade as close as you dare - cast upstream and across, and retrieve your line as the fly floats back to you.  Remember these mayflies are going to be in moderate current and so, unlike fishing upstream in faster water, keeping up with the returning line is not difficult.  This is a great way to learn the mechanics of an effective technique but, don't miss the opportunity this hatch is short lived and normally over in less than a week.  The Spinner fall lasts longer.  Spinners are often around for about two weeks after the start of the hatch.  Spinner fall takes place in moderate riffles later in the day. I myself have never hit this hatch on the Kennebec in Shawmut but, I have been told by reliable people that Blue Quills are there.

Hendricksons are called Ephemerella Subvaria  (ef-fem-er-ella sub-vary-uh) by those up on Latin and just plain old "Hendricksons or Red Quills"  by the rest of us. Oddly, the male and females are different colors.  The male is smaller (size 14) and darker than the female (size 12).  Both have three tails, double wings and hatch midday after the water gets up into the fifty-five degree range.  The male has  big red eyes and is easily identified.  A wet fly during the hatch is not a bad idea because of the rise and fall practice runs the nymph makes (sometimes for days prior to hatching)  while getting ready to hatch.  Spinner fall takes place over runs and riffles (5:00ish) somewhat later than the hatch which is often said to "happen at 2:00 sharp everyday."  I wouldn't set my clock by it but they are consistent from day to day once the hatch time is established.  They seem to like all types of water for either the hatch or the spinner fall.