Lesser Green Drake tied by Steven Bird |
Mahogany Dun tied by Steven Bird |
Wetfly takes on a couple of larger mayflies that are a significant autumn presence in
the West: The lesser green drake (Drunella
flavilinea); & the mahogany dun or blue quill (Paraleptophlebia bicornuta). Both of these mayflies occur over the spectrum of stream types; both are generally about the
same size, #12-#14; & neither produces substantial hatches (that I’ve
encountered), yet imitations of either are worthwhile, as they are in
the mix, flavs into October, & mahogany duns into November or even later in
southern ranges.
I think of the lesser green drake & mahogany dun as a ‘seasonal hatch’, their imitations worthwhile for ‘fishing the water’ throughout the season, in areas they are present. As nymphs, both of these species are crawlers; & both migrate to shallow water prior to final emergence. I think trout just as often see emerging, stillborn, or drowned spinner versions of ‘flavs’ & mahogany duns, so, for that reason, I fish ‘winged’ patterns, which serve to cover those three modes: emerger/stillborn/spent adult.
I think of the lesser green drake & mahogany dun as a ‘seasonal hatch’, their imitations worthwhile for ‘fishing the water’ throughout the season, in areas they are present. As nymphs, both of these species are crawlers; & both migrate to shallow water prior to final emergence. I think trout just as often see emerging, stillborn, or drowned spinner versions of ‘flavs’ & mahogany duns, so, for that reason, I fish ‘winged’ patterns, which serve to cover those three modes: emerger/stillborn/spent adult.
Profile of Lesser Green Drake Wing |
Looking at the winged wetfly patterns here, & if you go back & look at Allen McGee’s mayfly patterns in the prior Journal entry, you'll notice that though the mayfly designs pictured are winged, they aren’t really “winged wetflies” in the traditional sense. The paired quill wings of ‘traditional’ designs are objectified & heavy, with little movement, tending toward somewhat less than diaphanous. The wings of mayflies, even drakes, are delicate, often transparent or semi-transparent so, to my mind, ‘less-is-more’ seems a good approach to simulating wings. Trout can see very well, & if they see too much, there is too much that can be seen as questionable & be rejected. But just a hint. An insinuation of a wing. Just a few fibers of light reflecting antron simulating a wing on a small fly, leaves little to dismiss as suspicious. The wings of mahogany duns remain colored through all stages, becoming semi-transparent toward the rear portions in the spinner stage. Both flavs & mahogany duns display & retain the most color &, in the case of flavs, veining, on the forward portions of the wings, & it is just the forward portion I'm attempting to simulate.
Lesser Green Drake
Hook: #14
TMC 200R
Thread: Yellow
Tail: Black
- three heavy feather fibers
Rib: Yellow latex 'floss' wound over the abdomen
Abdomen: Dark
olive (BWO) Wapsi Superfine dubbed on yellow sewing thread – bodies on these
are robust, build up with sewing thread
Thorax: Dark
olive Wapsi Superfine
Wing: Stack:
about a dozen natural mallard or gadwall flank fibers; a couple barbs of yellow marabou; 3 or 4 strands of olive or blue dun midge flash; top with a few fibers of olive-dyed mallard flank
Hackle: One
turn of brown speckled game hen
Head: A turn
of dark olive dubbing – & finish.
Mahogany Dun
Hook: #14
TMC 200R
Thread: Rusty
brown
Tail: Ginger
hackle fibers
Abdomen: Mahogany-brown
goose biot
Thorax: March-brown
Wapsi Superfine dubbing
Wing: Medium
blue dun sections taken from a very soft secondary feather (I gather those
dropped by molting gulls) – train opposing quarter inch sections straight out
from the feather stem, fold together & cut from the stem for a matched pair
Hackle: One
turn of ginger hen hackle – & finish.
Flyfish NE Washington with Steven Bird: http://ucflyfishing.blogspot.com