Dry fly
Hendrickson
Eastern spring hatch dun
TroutSurface
The great Catskill spring hatch, Ephemerella subvaria. The female is the pinkish-grey Hendrickson; the slimmer rust-bodied male is the Red Quill. One hatch, two dressings, and one of the most anticipated dates on the eastern calendar.
Fish this when
Mid-to-late spring (water around 50–55°F), usually a dependable early-afternoon emergence on eastern freestone and tailwater rivers. Match female (Hendrickson) and male (Red Quill) as the fish dictate; dead-drift to steady risers.
Why it works
Subvaria hatch in concentrated, reliable afternoon windows and trout lock onto them hard. Carrying both the Hendrickson and the Red Quill lets you match whichever sex the fish have settled on — they often prefer one.
Naturals it imitates
Ephemerella subvaria dun — female Hendrickson, male Red Quill
Typical zone & fishable range
usually
Surface
Film
Subsurface
Deep
Setup sensitivity: medium
Quick facts
Tying difficulty
Intermediate