Dry FliesLes's Lemon Cahill
Les's Lemon Cahill is a classic Catskill dry fly developed by Les Shannon, known for his meticulous attention to detail and custom dubbing blends. This elegant pattern imitates the Light Cahill and similar pale mayflies with its distinctive lemon-yellow body and golden straw hackle. Despite being created several decades ago, it remains exceptionally effective on selective trout during summer mayfly hatches.
Spring, Summer
Intermediate
Trout
Overview
Les Shannon was famous for his custom dubbing blends, and this pattern showcases his philosophy that "less is more" when it comes to dubbing application. He specifically chose mallard flank over traditional wood duck for the wing due to its lighter coloring, which better matches the naturals. The golden straw hackle from a Whiting neck provides both the tail and the collar, ensuring color consistency throughout the fly. The hackle is wrapped both behind and in front of the wing in traditional Catskill fashion.
Pattern Characteristics
Materials
Hook: Standard dry-fly hook (Mustad 94840 or similar), #12–#18
Thread: Tan, 6/0 or 70 denier
Wing: Mallard flank feather fibers
Tail: Golden straw dry-fly hackle fibers
Body: 80/20 mix of yellow and white rabbit fur dubbing
Hackle: Golden straw dry-fly hackle
Fishing Tips
Season
Most effective during late spring and summer when Light Cahills, Pale Evening Duns, and similar cream-colored mayflies are hatching. Peak activity typically occurs from late May through July.
Presentation
Cast upstream or up-and-across to rising trout and achieve a drag-free drift. The high-floating Catskill design allows the fly to ride the currents naturally. Mend line as needed to extend the drift through the feeding lane.
When to Use
Best during evening hatches of pale-colored mayflies when trout are actively rising. Look for spinner falls at dusk when Light Cahills return to lay eggs. Also effective as a searching pattern on overcast days.
Water Type
Excels on classic Eastern trout streams, particularly the pools and runs where Catskill-style flies were developed. Equally effective on spring creeks, tailwaters, and freestone streams with mayfly populations.
Rigging Suggestions
Fish on a 9-12 foot leader tapered to 4X or 5X tippet. The bushy hackle provides good flotation, but a light application of floatant to the hackle helps in choppy water. Avoid getting floatant on the dubbed body.
Visibility & Floatation
This is a high-riding dry fly that floats on its hackle tips. The pale coloring provides excellent visibility to both angler and fish. The light mallard wing creates a natural silhouette against the sky when viewed from below.
