Best Mayfly Fly Patterns

Updated: Jul 31

Pheasant tail nymphs, hares ear nymphs, copper johns, and prince nymphs have been
staples to for any fly box for decades. These flies have accounted for bringing countless
trout to the net for both expert and beginner fly anglers. The rapidly evolving fly fishing
industry has introduced several new patterns in recent years that may offer something
different to these tried and true patterns.

In this article, we will take a deep dive into each of these patterns along with there
situational uses and benefits. Also check out our video with FNG Outdoors for more in
depth tips about fishing these patterns.

Mayfly Nymph Patterns and Imitations

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Next to the classic pheasant tail, copper john, hares ear, and prince nymph patterns,
the modern quilldigon, frenchie, rainbow warrior, and wd40 patterns can fool the most
selective trout. These modern flies offer something different from the classic flies and
possess different characteristics that can be more attractive to the trout that other flies
do not.

First we will start with the older fly patterns and why they became popular, as well as
the benefits they provided to anglers.

Pheasant Tail Nymph

The Pheasant Tail could very well be the simplest fly pattern designed. Fly tiers need
only thread, a few pheasant tail fibers, and an optional bead at it's simplest to tie an
effective fly. The fly makes and excellent nymph profile. The only real downside may be
its durability. Even when tied with wire and super glue for more structural support, the
tend to only last for a dozen or two trout or so.

Hares Ear Nymph

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Very few flies are as buggy looking as a Hares Ear. These can imitate both mayfly and
stonefly nymphs effectively as well as several other aquatic invertebrates. The stray
hairs undulate in current, creating the illusion of movement, becoming a tantalizing
meal for trout. The only down side may be the fly's bulk and density which doesn't allow
the fly to sink as rapidly in quicker currents compared to other mayfly nymph
imitations.

Copper John

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The Copper John is a great imitation for smaller mayfly nymphs. The appeal to this fly is
the added weight and density provided by the additional wire as well as extra flash that
can catch a hungry trout's eye. While still simple, tying this pattern can take a bit more
finesse and more time than other patterns.

Prince Nymph

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The Prince nymph, and its seemingly infinite variations imitate both stonefly and mayfly
nymphs. This pattern doesn't necessarily have the benefits or the downsides of the
other mayfly imitations but can non the less be an effective alternative at times.

Modern Mayfly Nymph Patterns for Fly Fishing

Modern nymph patterns were designed to improve on these classic patterns and offer
the trout a different look. The first major improvement occurred with the development
of jig style hooks with a slotted or inverted bead. These improvements made nymphs
more weedless, and improved hook up ratios. These modern nymphs are typically more
streamlined and dense allowing flies to reach the bottom, where the trout are holding
much quicker than other patterns.

Rainbow Warrior Nymphs

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Simple, Flashy, and Dense these flies descend in the water column quickly and get the
attention of nearby trout just as fast. This pattern amplifies the positive aspects of the
Copper John. Its flashiness compliments its small profile when trout are selecting for
smaller foods with the added the advantage of being more visible to the trout from
further away.

Quilldigon

An excellent natural mayfly nymph imitation that still possesses all of the positives of
modern nymph patterns. A dense fly pattern that gets to the trout quickly, it is a great

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replacement for the pheasant tail. The quilldigon can fool the spookiest of trout in your
local rivers and streams.

Frenchie

Another simple jig nymph pattern, the Frenchie can be tied with a variety of colors that
appeal both to trout and fly anglers. Fly fishermen can certainly offer the trout
something they have yet seen with the frenchie and it's variations.

WD40

The WD40 is another great small mayfly nymph imitation. This fly can also imitate
larger midges in the early emerging stages. A simple pattern that is excellent for
selective trout feeding anywhere in the water column. While likely not the best point fly,
the WD40 is a great tag fly or used as a shallow dropper.

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The Best Mayfly Dry Fly Patterns

Unlike many of the nymphs, trout can become increasingly selective when feeding on
dry flies. Matching size and profile is incredibly important for anglers looking to
maximize their catch. On occassion, color can be a factor but typically to a lesser
degree. Matching overall hue is typically enough to get the job done. For matching
species such as a sulfur, cahill, or PMD (Pale Morning Dun), lighter colors such as
yellows, whites, manillas, or lighter grays are optimal. Darker, more earth toned colors
are better for species such as the BWO(Blue Wing Olive, Mahogany Dun, Quills, and
Baetis. Understanding the adult phases (emergers, duns, and spinners) can be
important in knowing where the best presentation on the water should be made. To
understand more about the stages and selecting the proper fly, check out the article on
Selecting Flies for Trout Fishing.

Popular Mayfly Dry Fly Patterns

Variations of the Adams fly, sparkle dun, wally wing, mosquito, and rusty spinner are
excellent mayfly imitations when trout are rising to the surface. Each pattern has its
pros and cons, so understanding these will help when making your selection.

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Adams Fly

The Adams, Parachute Adams and their thousands of variants have been staples in fly
fishing for decades. They are a must for all fly boxes. Tied in nearly every size, they do
a great job of imitating just about every mayfly species that find their way into a trout's
mouth.

Sparkle Dun

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The Sparkle Dun is another excellent mayfly imitation that can imitate both the dun and
emerger stage. Much like the Adams, the Sparkle dun can be found in just about any
size and imitate a variety of mayfly species.

Wally Wing

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The Wally Wing pattern is likely the most visually similar fly to and actual Maylfy. The
standing wings are easily visible to anglers. The fly does a great job of imitating both
duns and spinners. It downside comes with durability as it rarely lasts for more than a
dozen trout before being mangled beyond repair.

Rusty Spinner

The Rusty Spinner is a great pattern for imitating smaller mayfly species in their
spinner form. Though this form is typically seen much less than the dun and emergers,
they can be deadly effective when selective trout are feeding.

Mosquito
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The Mosquito is another excellent pattern for imitating smaller mayfly species. When
Tricos, BWOs, and smaller Sulfurs are the target of hungry trout, the mosquito is a great
bet for fly anglers.

Extended Body Mayflies

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Extended body flies alloy fly anglers to match the hatch of larger Mayfly species such as
Drakes, Quills, and Hexes, while increasing the buoyancy of the fly by downsizing the
hook. These flies often imitate the dun or spinner phase and can be excellent when
gluttonous trout are feeding on bigger meals.

Mayfly Emerger Patterns

The CDC Emerger, Shuttlecock, RS2, Foam Wing Emerger, and forementioned Sparkle
Dun are excellent mayfly emerger imitations. These flies sit half way above and below
the waters surface, much like a trapped hatching mayfly would do.

Foam Back Emerger

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The heavier body paired with the buoyant foam on this fly does a great job of
positioning this fly where it needs to be in the water column. The only potential
downside may be that this fly is often bulkier than other emerger patterns which can be
troubling with selective trout.

Shuttlecock Fly

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The shuttle cock has a thin profile and does an excellent job matching the hatch for
larger mayfly emergers toward the beginning of a hatch. These are a excellent flies
during those late evening hatches in late spring and summer when larger species begin
to take to the air.

CDC Emerger

Many variations of a cdc emerger exist such as a loop wing emerger. These flies sit very
low on the water. Saturating the fly, or simply failing to re-dry the fly while fishing can
allow it to sit lower, potentially leading to additional strikes.

Our article on What Do Trout Eat takes a deeper dive into the trout's diet. Learn more
Fly Fishing a Hatch and about the best flies for trout in our related articles on The Best
Caddis Fly Patterns, The Best Stonefly Fly Patterns, Streamer Fishing for Trout, and
Filling out your Fly Box.

Learn more about the Trout Species of the World in this article as well as the Trout of
North America, Trout Species of Southern Europe, Trout of Morocco, Trout of Japan,
Trout of Ireland, Trout of Patagonia, and Trout of Turkey.

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