One of the early hatches in our area are the Hendricksons (Ephemerella subvaria). They usually start to hatch around the opening day of trout season and can last for about the next 3 weeks. Art Flick, in his classic book, Art Flick’s Streamside Guide To Naturals And Their Imitations, wrote that this is one of a few mayflies that has to be imitated by two patterns. The Light Hendrickson for the female species and the Red Quill for the male species. Art devised this pattern for the male. It uses a stripped brown quill from a brown neck, soaked in water to prevent it from splitting, as the body of the fly. Coat the quill body with head cement to bring out the segmentation and protect the fragile quill. For our area this fly is usually tied in sizes #12 and #14, but tied in smaller sizes #16 and #18 it can be used to represent smaller mahogany colored flies.

Hook : Dry fly, #12 and #14
Thread : Black
Wings : Wood Duck upright and split
Body : Red Quill (soaked to prevent it from breaking)
Tail : Medium dun hackle barbs
Hackle : Medium dun hackle

John Lazar

Fly tied by John Lazar