Every spring the big brown variegated mayfly commonly referred to as the Fox comes out and they are very prolific in many waters here in the Midwest and East Coast. Some of the largest hatches of Fox (scientific name Stenonema Vicarium) I've experienced were in Canada on the Grand River. These are very athletic mayflies having large abdomens, wings, and legs. The movements are much more erratic than the graceful summer specimens. The trout take these mayflies with a certain verve and typically the takes are splashy and abrupt.
I've modified the pattern over the years using CDL Pardo Medio feathers for tailing fibers that are stiff and have wonderful barred amber and black segments. For wings I use my usual hen tips dyed ginger, and for the abdomen I use a rusty tan peacock quill coated with varnish. Barred ginger hackle really sets this fly apart because these mayflies have a lot of variegation probably more so than any other mayfly.
Barred ginger hackle mimics the fine variegations seen on this insect
CDL Pardo Medio feathers for tailing fibers they are stiff and
have wonderful barred amber and black mottling.
Quill Body Fox
Hook: TMC 531 sizes 12-16
Thread: Veevus 14/0 Tan
Tailing: CDL Pardo Medio Grado:1
Abdomen: Stripped peacock quill dyed ginger (apply varnish Holly Hansen Topcoat)
Dubbing: For thorax ball Superfine dubbing ginger
Wing: Pullet neck with rounded tips dyed ginger
First tie in tailing fibers using CDL, tie in stripped peacock quill dyed ginger and coat the quill with a thin layer of varnish and set aside to dry. Once dry tie in hen tip wings dyed ginger, secure them with ginger superfine dubbing creating a thorax ball around the wing posts.
Two wraps of the hackle behind the wing followed by three in front is fine,
typically I do not over hackle this fly because I fish it most of the time is slow to medium water.
This pattern is simple to tie and pays big dividends on the stream in early spring.
If you want to use something for faster water and even more buoyant for the abdomen try using
a stripped and dyed rooster hackle quill dyed ginger they will float the fly very well.
~Clint Bova