Dry FliesRazor Mayfly
The Razor Mayfly is an innovative foam-bodied mayfly pattern that uses thin Razor Foam for a slim, realistic profile with unsinkable floatation. The EP fiber wing and quality hackle create an impressionistic mayfly silhouette. Available in Green Drake, PMD, Pink Lady, Baetis, and Callibaetis variations to cover all major hatches.
Spring, Summer, Fall
Intermediate
Trout
Dec 2025
Overview
The Razor Mayfly was developed at Blue Ribbon Flies using thin Razor Foam to create a more realistic mayfly profile than traditional foam patterns. Available in five color variations to match major mayfly hatches: Green Drake, PMD, Pink Lady (Epeorus), Baetis, and Callibaetis. The foam body provides unsinkable floatation while maintaining a realistic slim profile.
Materials
Hook: Tiemco 100 or Umpqua U001, #12-20 (varies by variation)
Thread: Ultra Thread, 8/0 or 14/0, black or grey brown
Tail: Coq de Leon, light speckled
Body: Razor Foam, opaque olive (drake/Baetis), translucent yellow (PMD), opaque pink (Pink Lady), or opaque tan (Callibaetis)
Wing: EP Fibers, ocean grey, grey, white, or BWO Trigger Point (varies by variation)
Hackle: Grizzly dyed yellow (drake), medium dun (PMD/Baetis), barred ginger (Pink Lady), or grizzly (Callibaetis)
Behavior & Presentation
Natural Behavior: Mayfly duns float downstream with upright wings, drying gradually while exposed to extended predation during drift. Fish rise selectively to these adults because concentrated hatch windows create competitive feeding requiring quick decisions.
Where Trout Eat It: Fish sip duns floating in the surface film along seams, tail-outs, and riffle edges where mayflies concentrate. Both rivers and lakes host mayfly hatches, with specific patterns matching local species.
How to Fish It: Dead drift in the surface film allows the Razor Foam body to ride correctly without constant adjustment. The unsinkable design maintains proper profile through extended sessions.
Best Water: Focus on seams concentrating floating duns, tail-outs with gentle currents for sipping rises, and riffle edges where mayflies emerge and drift.
Strike Type: Visible rises or expanding surface rings mark confident takes on properly presented mayfly adults.
Fishing Strategy
Rigging Suggestions: Fish on 9-15 foot leader with appropriate tippet for size. The foam provides enough floatation to support a small dropper nymph on the larger sizes.
Seasonal Timing: Varies by version - Green Drake (late /early ), PMD , Pink Lady , Baetis (/), Callibaetis ( on lake). Choose the appropriate variation for your hatch.
Pro Tips: EP fiber wings provide good visibility against most backgrounds. Excellent floatation from Razor Foam.
Entomology
Mayfly duns float downstream with their wings upright, drying gradually while exposed to predation for extended drift periods. Fish rise selectively to these adults because mayfly hatches occur in concentrated windows, creating competitive feeding situations where fish must act quickly.
- Order
- Ephemeroptera
- Common Name
- Mayfly
- Organism Type
- insect
- Life Stage
- adult