Hatches
Hendricksons. One of our favorites. The first of the Big Five . . . Hendricksons, Sulphurs, Isonychia, Brown Drakes, and Hex. The Hendricksons on the AuSable and Manistee watersheds offer the trout a large meal both in size and quantity just as warmer water temperatures have the trout’s metabolism kicking into gear. Sporadic hatching can begin when stream temperatures in the mid forties occur for a number of consecutive days or “degree days”. The huge emergences, however, occur when the water temperatures reach the low 50’s. These temperatures coincide with prime feeding temperatures for trout.
The Hendrickson family actually is comprised of three separate species (ephemerella subvaria, invaria, and rotunda) that show up as Spring begins to warm our rivers. Don’t worry about the Latin—the fish don’t speak it. What you need to know is that all three species thrive in our rivers and that the insects can vary from size 12 to 14 and from a creamy tan to a dark reddish brown depending on species and sex. Now I’m not saying you should turn the flies over to see if you should be fishing a male or female pattern, but I am telling you to have a variety of pattern options.
Hendrickson nymphs are crawler nymphs and as a result have a stocky thorax - think body builder with huge shoulders and skinny legs. The nymphs darken before hatching and can be imitated nicely with a pheasant tail nymph in a 12 or 14. Nymphs and emergers are vital for this hatch and should not be overlooked. There are a few emerger patterns that I would not go astream without. Another effective method is to fish the floating nymph just in or under the surface film. Fishing the Hendrickson emergence effectively is all about versatility and attention to detail. Well, I suppose that is true in all of fishing.
That being said, there has probably been no better fishing in my career than the fishing that I’ve experienced during the Hendrickson spinner falls of the AuSable. It’s a fickle game as spinner falls are dependant on our inconsistent, Michigan, Spring weather. The mating flights should, theoretically, take place on warm April and May evenings . . . theoretically. Factually, Hendrickson spinner falls in the AuSable valley can take place in the morning or even in mid-afternoon. Again, when chasing this hatch, the angler has to be prepared, alert, and versatile. As always, stop by the shop and we’ll do our best to get you the right spot and the right gear.
If you can’t make it into the shop on your way up North, visit our online store and prepare yourself with our Hendrickson 12 dry fly selection or our complete life cycle Hendrickson 18 selection. Fishing time is precious; don’t go on the water under gunned.
Sulfurs . . . the second of the big five
When we talk about Sulfurs we’re talking primarily about Ephemerella dorothea or more commonly known as the miniature eastern sulfur. These mayflies hatch from late May through July and will range from size 14 to 20, depending on sex. Although, another variable is the time of the hatch, usually the larger mayflies hatch first and will continue to decrease in size until they are finished.
As Nymphs they are poor swimmers and prefer bottoms of quiet pools and eddies. They have amber to medium brown bodies, have three fringed tails, and are 6 to 8 millimeters in length. As Emergers, they’ll congregate in slow water. Since, they are such poor swimmers they prefer to make their break for the surface in overcast skies and still have a terrible time breaking the surface film. The emergence of a days’ hatch will usually take place within one to two hours of an afternoon.
