Hendrickson Emerger an early spring staple

In the early spring, from April through May, a dark, steely gray mayfly comes off the water. Ephemerella Subvaria is one of the long-awaited mayfly hatches of the season in most parts of the eastern US. I personally look forward to it all winter long. Because the spring brings swifter water flows and often discoloration, I tie this fly a size larger than most of my adult and emerger mayfly patterns that I use in mid-summer. The same holds true for my March Brown patterns. Typically, a more bushy fly that can float like a cork in a faster current is an early spring staple for my first cold days of fishing in spring creeks. In general, the trout are a little less discriminating when the hatch is on in the very early season.

The emerger shown in this entry is tied on the venerable Hanak 300 BL in sizes #14 and #16. This particular hook is somewhat robust, using a “medium” wire, but Hanak hooks generally lean toward heavy-gauge wire, so care has to be taken when dressing these hooks to achieve proper floatation. I combine Kapok fibers with beaver belly, squirrel hair, and rabbit's foot for a buoyant stew of natural fibers. Using a dubbing loop and winding a thorax prior to folding over the CDC gives me a robust life jacket on the business end of the fly. Once folded over the thorax, the CDC loop wing traps a generous amount of air just above the surface film. This emergent pattern is a real confidence booster in swifter water and also dries quite easily with a few false casts.

~Early Spring Hendrickson Emerger~

Hook: Hanak 300 BL sizes 14 & 16

Thread: UTC Ultra 70 Black

Body: Peacock quill natural, coated with Sally Hansen clear

Thorax Dubbing: Kapok, squirrel, beaver belly, rabbit's foot 

all natural shades, tie in using a dubbing loop

Wing: CDC feathers x2 Dark Dun

Thanks for letting me share!

Clint Bova    www.cjbovarods.com