Mayfly Patterns

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Mayfly Dun Dry Flies
The mayfly is synonomous with dry fly fishing. There are several different species and they can be found on most rivers in the UK and often on lakes and reservoirs. They hatch most prolifically in late May and early June but the so called "Duffer's Fortnight" is not as easy as some would have you believe!

The unusual mayfly life cycle has two winged adult stages. The first is the dun stage and the second is the spinner. The duns start hatching from the nymphs around mid-morning with a preference for still, warm, humid conditions. By late afternoon the hatch is normally over. Temperature has a big effect on the hatch period with cooler weather causing the hatches to shift towards the afternoon or evening and in really cold weather they will stop altogether. Warm weather has the opposite effect and can cause hatches to be over by early afternoon. The fly fisherman's friend during mayfly dun hatches can be drizzle or light rain. This makes it harder for the duns to leave the water's surface making them easy prey for trout. It is not uncommon during these conditions for trout to feed in a frenzy on thousands of duns struggling to take off.

The patterns below are all highly effective but each have their unique niche. Choose carefully for the conditions you expect to find. To watch videos of mayfly and trout being caught on Mayfly Patterns visit our nymphing articles site.

Mayfly Spinner Dry Flies
The mayfly spinner is the second adult winged stage of the mayfly life cycle. The spinners hatch once the duns have left the water's surface and found cover on the underside of leaves and vegetation. Once there the duns hatch into spinners. The spinners have clear wings as opposed to the milky wings of the dun. The body is also much whiter with clear black rings. Once early evening arrives the spinners start their distinctive mating dance with great swarms filling the air. Mating takes place and the female spinners make their way to the water to deposit their eggs. The female spinners die after depositing their eggs and great carpets of dead and dying mayfly can cover the water's surface

The best conditions for mayfly spinners are calm warm evenings. The patterns below are the best of the many mayfly imitations. Each have their strengths and weaknesses.

The CDC Mayfly
The CDC Mayfly is a mayfly dun pattern. Although traditionally it hatches in May, the more prolific hatches tend to be late May and early June. Small numbers actually hatch well into the summer when a CDC Mayfly can be deadly. The Mayfly can be found on most rivers and lakes in the UK.

The Deerstalker
The Deerstalker is a mayfly spinner pattern. It represents the spent female spinners that die once they have deposited their eggs. The Deerstalker is best fished on calm evenings in the mayfly season (mid-May to mid-June), but can be fished late into summer when there are sporadic hatches.

The Gosling
The Gosling is a mayfly dun pattern and should be fished from mid-morning to mid-afternoon during mayfly season.

The Grey Wulff
The Grey Wulff is a versatile year round fly but is most commonly used as mayfly dun pattern.

The Parachute Mayfly
The Parachute Mayfly is a mayfly dun pattern. It is best used when trout are easily startled.

The Spent Gnat
The Spent Gnat is a mayfly spinner pattern.

The Spent Mayfly
The Spent Mayfly is sparsely tied mayfly spinner pattern