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.
Related patterns
Behavior & presentation
- Natural Behavior
- Adult mayflies drift on the surface after hatching or during egg-laying flights, floating with wings upright while resting between mating activities. Fish consume these freshly emerged or spent adults for their high protein content and predictable seasonal abundance during peak emergence windows.
- Where Trout Eat It
- Trout sip cream-colored mayflies in classic Catskill tailwaters during late spring Pale Evening Dun and Light Cahill hatches.
- How to Fish It
- Dead drift with 9-12 foot leaders tapered to 4X-5X. Apply light floatant to hackle for traditional high-riding Catskill presentation.
- Best Water
- Most productive on riffle edges transitioning to glides and along seams where moderate current concentrates emerging mayflies.
- Strike Type
- The classic Catskill high-riding hackle triggers confident rises with visible ring patterns in moderate current; set at the sight of the rise with smooth acceleration rather than jerky motions.
Fishing strategy
- 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.
- Seasonal Timing
- 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.
- Pro Tips
- This is a high-riding dry fly that floats on its hackle tips. The light mallard wing creates a natural silhouette against the sky when viewed from below.
Where to fish it
Rivers anglers pair with this fly, with local shops that stock it.
River details and fly shops from River & Run, our sister site.
Entomology
Adult mayflies drift on the surface after hatching or during egg-laying flights, floating with wings upright while resting between mating activities. Fish consume these freshly emerged or spent adults for their high protein content and predictable seasonal abundance during peak emergence windows.
- Order
- Ephemeroptera
- Common name
- Mayfly
- Organism
- insect
- Life stage
- adult
Pattern details
- Moving Water
- Northeast
- dead-drift
- baetis-hatch
- classic
- searching-pattern
- low-clear-water
- tailwater
- freestone
- spring-creek