The Best Anglers Never Stop Learning
The Best Anglers Never Stop Learning
Quill Gordon, Blue Wing Olive, Callibaetis and 9 others
Medium - 3-5 Min
Coldwater, Warmwater
Even though this is a specific pattern for a specific event during the life cycle of mayflies, there are still a few things you can do for a different fly, while still getting that purple dubbing in for the “purple haze” aspect of this pattern. For a stronger wing, that might hold up a little better, consider using small amount of deer body hair in the wing. You can get it bleached white, or keep it natural brown. This may make the thorax of this fly float a little better for rougher waters.
This fly is a great fly to pull out during those “carpet” mayfly hatches when you can’t tell your fly from the thousands of naturals that are floating along the seam you’re trying to fish. The white CDC wing and the purple body not only makes the fly stand out for the angler, but also for the fish. The cripple aspect of this fly also allows the angler to fish a type of fly that other anglers sometimes overlook during large hatches. It is not uncommon to see trout searching for these crippled mayflies that are stuck in their nymph shells and floating helplessly along the river, unable to take off from the surface.
This fly does not need to be the highest riding fly in the river. The idea behind a cripple fly is that the tail and much of the body is going to be subsurface, while the hackle and wing are on top of the water. This gives your fly that cripple look where the nymph body is still in the water while the adult is trying to molt and fly off the surface of the water. Try not to move this fly and get a nice dead drift along the river to really lock in that look, as any irregular movement will put off any trout looking for this easy meal.
| Regional Hatch Chart | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
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Region: West
Blue Wing Olive Sizes: #16 - #24
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Region: Northwest
Blue Wing Olive Sizes: #16 - #24
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Region: East
Blue Wing Olive Sizes: #16 - #24
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Region: Southeast
Blue Wing Olive Sizes: #16 - #24
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Region: Midwest
Blue Wing Olive Sizes: #16 - #24
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| Regional Hatch Chart | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
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Region: West
Brown Drake Sizes: #10 - #14
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Region: Northwest
Brown Drake Sizes: #10 - #14
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Region: East
Brown Drake Sizes: #10 - #14
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Region: Midwest
Brown Drake Sizes: #10 - #14
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| Regional Hatch Chart | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
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Region: West
Callibaetis Sizes: #12 - #18
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Region: Northwest
Callibaetis Sizes: #12 - #18
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Region: East
Callibaetis Sizes: #12 - #18
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Region: Midwest
Callibaetis Sizes: #12 - #18
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| Regional Hatch Chart | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Region: West, Northwest, Midwest
Green Drake Sizes: #8 - #14
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Region: East
Green Drake Sizes: #8 - #14
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| Regional Hatch Chart | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
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Region: East, Midwest
Hendrickson Sizes: #10 - #16
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| Regional Hatch Chart | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
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Region: West, Northwest, East, Southeast, Midwest
Hexegenia Sizes: #6 - #12
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| Regional Hatch Chart | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
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Region: East
Isonychia Sizes: #12 - #18
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Region: Southeast
Isonychia Sizes: #12 - #18
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Region: Midwest
Isonychia Sizes: #12 - #18
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| Regional Hatch Chart | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
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Region: East
Light Cahill Sizes: #12 - #20
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Region: Midwest
Light Cahill Sizes: #12 - #20
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Region: Northwest
Light Cahill Sizes: #12 - #20
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| Regional Hatch Chart | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
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Region: West, Northwest
Mahogany Dun Sizes: #14 - #20
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Region: East, Midwest
Mahogany Dun Sizes: #14 - #20
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| Regional Hatch Chart | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
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Region: West, East
March Brown Sizes: #10 - #14
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Region: Northwest
March Brown Sizes: #10 - #14
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Region: Midwest
March Brown Sizes: #10 - #14
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| Regional Hatch Chart | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
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Region: West, Northwest, East, Southeast, Midwest
PMD Sizes: #14 - #20
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| Regional Hatch Chart | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
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Region: East, Southeast
Quill Gordon Sizes: #12 - #16
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Copyright © 2003 – 2025 MidCurrent LLC, All Rights Reserved.