The Best Anglers Never Stop Learning

The Best Anglers Never Stop Learning

Nymph

Micro Mayfly

Insect Species Icon Quill Gordon, Blue Wing Olive, Green Drake and 6 others
Difficulty Icon Easy - 3-5 Min
Water Category Icon Coldwater

Tying Video

Become a Member

Sign up for full access to the Learning Center
and all the FlyBrary Content.
Tying Recipe
  • Hook: Sproat Bend, Down Eye, 2X Heavy, 1X Long
  • Bead: Brass or Tungsten, Sized to Hook (optional)
  • Thread: UTC 70 Denier, Olive
  • Tail: Pheasant Tail, Natural
  • Body: Stripped Peacock Herl
  • Rib: Small Ultra Wire, Gold
  • Thorax: Superfine Dubbing, Light Brown
  • Casing: Pheasant Tail, Natural
  • Back: Small Mirage Tinsel, Opal
  • Legs: Peasant Tail, Natural

A couple easy substitutions exist for this ultra realistic pattern that won’t take away from the intended look of the bug. Of course colors can be modified to match your local mayflies as well.

Thorax: Any dubbing with a similar consistency to Superfine Dubbing will accomplish the same mission. Ice Dub can be great if you enjoy adding a little flash. Just match the colors.

Back: Regular Flashabou would be a fine substitution for the Opal Mirage Tinsel mentioned in the recipe.

 

So may different mayflies exist at different times, in different places, in different sizes, and in different colors. This makes it imperative that you tie up a good variation of sizes and colors to cover all of your bases where and when you fish. A tungsten bead version is great for getting the fly down deep in front of the fish’s face.

Slender is the name of the game when we talk about mayflies. This pattern accomplishes a slender, realistic look without compromising on durability or weight. The stripped peacock herl has a sheen that really looks like a mayfly body, the counter wrapped wire gives it the durability to be used throughout the day on many fish, and the optional tungsten bead can get that bug down quicker than you can say “fish on!”.

The Micro Mayfly is a great choice for a middle fly in a 3 fly rig, bottom fly in a 2 fly rig, or a trailer fly underneath a dry of some sort. Its versatility is one of the best qualities it possesses. With mayflies being such a mainstay in a trouts diet throughout the west, and in other places, having these at your disposal in various colors and sizes can make your day on the water a massive success. Being prepared is the best fishing tip around!

Blue Wing Olive

Regional Hatch Chart Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec
Region: West
Blue Wing Olive
Sizes: #16 - #24
Region: Northwest
Blue Wing Olive
Sizes: #16 - #24
Region: East
Blue Wing Olive
Sizes: #16 - #24
Region: Southeast
Blue Wing Olive
Sizes: #16 - #24
Region: Midwest
Blue Wing Olive
Sizes: #16 - #24

Brown Drake

Regional Hatch Chart Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec
Region: West
Brown Drake
Sizes: #10 - #14
Region: Northwest
Brown Drake
Sizes: #10 - #14
Region: East
Brown Drake
Sizes: #10 - #14
Region: Midwest
Brown Drake
Sizes: #10 - #14

Callibaetis

Regional Hatch Chart Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec
Region: West
Callibaetis
Sizes: #12 - #18
Region: Northwest
Callibaetis
Sizes: #12 - #18
Region: East
Callibaetis
Sizes: #12 - #18
Region: Midwest
Callibaetis
Sizes: #12 - #18

Green Drake

Regional Hatch Chart Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec
Region: West, Northwest, Midwest
Green Drake
Sizes: #8 - #14
Region: East
Green Drake
Sizes: #8 - #14

Hendrickson

Regional Hatch Chart Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec
Region: East, Midwest
Hendrickson
Sizes: #10 - #16

March Brown

Regional Hatch Chart Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec
Region: West, East
March Brown
Sizes: #10 - #14
Region: Northwest
March Brown
Sizes: #10 - #14
Region: Midwest
March Brown
Sizes: #10 - #14

PMD

Regional Hatch Chart Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec
Region: West, Northwest, East, Southeast, Midwest
PMD
Sizes: #14 - #20

Quill Gordon

Regional Hatch Chart Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec
Region: East, Southeast
Quill Gordon
Sizes: #12 - #16

Trico

Regional Hatch Chart Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec
Region: West, Northwest
Trico
Sizes: #18 - #26
Region: East, Southeast, Midwest
Trico
Sizes: #18 - #26

Become a Member

Sign up for full access to the Learning Center
and all the FlyBrary Content.