Mayfly cycle

Mayfly cycle

The mayfly, of the genus Ephemera, and its best known and most abundant species on European rivers, danica and vulgata, are an important part of the diet of trout and grayling, usually from mid-May to mid-June. It is not uncommon to see mayflies on the water later in the summer, but they are not of the same interest to salmonids. 

Ephemeridae are not among the families of mayflies most impacted by the degradation of aquatic environments, so their emergence can be massive, even in slightly degraded rivers. 

The massive emergence (hatch) of Ephemera danica, the most widespread, is a great moment for the fly fisherman as it marks one of the most beautiful periods of the season for dry fly fishing, as trout are actively looking for these insects, at all stages of their metamorphosis. 

It should be noted that depending on the type of river or lake, the physico-chemistry of the water determines the size of the insects: the May flies of the chalky rivers of Normandy, the Franche-Comté region or the south of England or of certain Irish lakes are much larger than those of the rivers of the Armorican massif or those with slightly acidic water. 

This is one of the times of the year when the best trout come to the surface and reveal their presence. It is therefore an opportunity to observe and often to try your luck on big fish which may then lose some of their wariness. 

If you have the choice, and if you live near the river, the first two weeks of emergence are the most favourable because afterwards, the fish learn quickly to make the difference between natural and artificial. 

I offer you a complete selection of effective imitations of mayflies, whatever the stage the fish are interested in, because everything is not always simple, as massive hatchings mean fish that are sometimes stuffed or full and therefore fussy.

The wet, stillborn, cripple, emerging or spent stages are sometimes preferred to the subimago (dun) and imago (spinner) stages. 

In order to be able to deal with all situations, one cannot be satisfied with a few imitations of subimagos (duns). 

It is absolutely necessary to consider the emergent stage and its variants and the spent stage. 

My selection includes the best of Fulling Mill, Devaux and McPhillips.

It is focused on river fishing, but I also offer the best nymphs, wet flies and dry flies for fishing on Irish lakes, one of the most important places for Mayfly fishing in Europe. 

Some of these patterns are also very effective in rivers.

Fishing flies

Mayfly Emerger MAI-03 Devaux

MAI03H12
€2.67
The MAI03 is a classic Mayfly emergent and can suggest a darker version of Ephemera danica or vulgata.  With its beige body of natural quill, pheasant sabre fibre tail, yellowish fur thorax and CDC wing topped with natural mallard fibers, this model is not only very pretty, it is also a trout and grayling magnet on May fly hatches.Tied on a long curved...
€2.67
The MAI02 is a classic Mayfly emergent and can suggest a darker version of Ephemera danica or vulgata With its beige body of natural herl, pheasant sabre fibre tail, light fur thorax and CDC wing topped with natural mallard fibers, this model is not only very pretty, it is also a trout and grayling magnet on May fly hatches.Available in sizes 10, 12 and...
€2.67
The MAI01 is a beautiful Mayfly emerger (Ephemera danica)  With its yellow varnished body ribbed with a natural peacock quill, the pardo fibers tail, the light fur and CDC thorax and the CDC wing topped with yellow mallard this pattern is not only sublime, it is overall a trout and grayling magnet during Mayfly hatch.Available in sizes 10, 12 and 14, to...
€2.67
The JBMAI 02 is a great classic of the Mayfly emerger (Ephemera danica) designed by Jacques Boyko, great competitor and former captain of the French fly fishing team. Lighter and more yellow than JBMAI01, the JBMAI02 clearly suggests danica. A fly to be greased or not to fish more or less deeper in the surface film depending on the conditions. A must-have...
€2.67
The JBMAI 01 is a great classic of the Mayfly emerger (Ephemera danica or vulgata) designed by Jacques Boyko, great competitor and former captain of the French fly fishing team. It may suggest Ephemera vulgata while the lighter, more yellow JBMAI02 clearly suggests danica. A fly to be greased or not to fish more or less deeper in the surface film...
€2.67
The ATE-08 (André Terrier Emerger) is a great classic of the Mayfly emerger (Ephemera danica) designed by the late André Terrier. A fly to be greased or not to fish more or less deeper in the surface film depending on the conditions. A Mouches Devaux classic.
CDC Mayfly Florian M213 CDC Mayfly Florian M213 2
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Fishing flies

CDC Mayfly Florian M213

€2.67
A classic Mayfly (Ephemera danica) subimago imitation made with care by professional fly tyer Florian from the best natural materials from his own farm: • Collar in dyed CDC• Silk body ribbed with a natural peacock quill • Pardo rooster wing bow fibre tail• Tied on chemically sharpened carbon hooks with an incomparable pointHandcrafted in France.
Fishing flies

Lough Arrow (Variant)

€2.92
This is a Darkish French Partridge Wet May which is very popular.It is similar in style to the old heavily dressed Erne patterns of Michael Rogan.The Lough Arrow Variant trout fishing fly is fished all over Ireland.
€2.92
This is a beautiful wet mayfly dressing that Frankie Mc Phillips first tied for Lough Arrow in the early 1980's. He then supplied it to Christy Wynne's shop in Boyle Co. Roscommon.It is a slight variant on the pattern in E.J. Malone's book Irish Trout And Salmon Flies.It is similar to many early Lough Erne patterns which are heavily dressed and has a...
€2.92
The French Partridge Mayfly Wet is an excellent wet fly for fishing natural lakes or reservoirs during the Mayfly hatch (Ephemera danica). It also works in rivers when the Mayfly hatches coincide with small floods and the waters become slightly coloured. The  French Partridge Mayfly Wet is a great subsurface pulling pattern when Mayflies are hatching.Tied...
Fishing flies

CDC Spent No.2

€2.92
For all your fishing with mayfly spents (dead insects with their wings flat on the surface) in rivers or lakes, you don't need to look any further than these models which have proved their worth on all the big limestone lakes and in rivers during the emergence of Mayflies (Ephemera danica)
This lovely spent was designed by Stuart Mc Teare who ran a fantastic fishing lodge in Finea in the 1990s. It is a tried and tested model on Lough Sheelin and on the vast majority of trout waters where May Fly Spent is part of the menu. The Sheelin Spent Mayfly (Mc Teare) is tied on a barbless hook.
Fishing flies

Lough Derg Spent

€2.92
A superb May Fly Spent pattern for trout fishing on Lough Derg on the Shannon and on the vast majority of trout waters where May Fly Spent is part of the menu.The Lough Derg Spent is available in 2 sizes. Size 10 and size 12
Fishing flies

Spent Mayfly (Foam)

€2.92
This fly is tied flat wing style.With no wound hackle it lies flat in the surface film.For this reason it is best suited to calm conditions. This fly is absolutely deadly for river fishing when the trout are exclusively focused on dead drifting insects.The Spent Mayfly (Foam) is available in 2 sizes. Size #10 & #12
Fishing flies

Aero Wing Spent Gnat

€2.92
A pattern from Dennis Moss for Lough Sheelin. It is a flat style spent made with synthetic aero-wing.It will work anywhere, but the Aero Wing Spent Gnat is GREAT on Lough Sheelin.
Fishing flies

Simple Spent (Deery)

€2.92
A trout fly fishing pattern from Patsy Deery's book "Irish Mayflies".The Simple Spent is an amalgamation of many trout fishing fly patterns.It can be fished with head hackles wound full circle or it can be tied using figure-of-eight style on the underside to give the spent mayfly shape to fish in dry mode.It has accounted for many big trout fishing...
Fishing flies

Inny Spent

€2.92
The Inny Spent is an old Spent Mayfly pattern from Lough Erne. It is unusual in that it has a tail composed of teal flank fibres.For all your spent gnat fishing on river or lake, you need go no further than this group of patterns which have proven themselves on all the great limestone lakes, such as Lough Erne
Fishing flies

CDC Mayfly Moss

€2.92
This trout fishing pattern was invented by Dennis Moss as an imitation of the Dun or the newly emerged fly.With a wing of CDC it is easy to see in any light and it holds up well in a big wave.Its initial success was on Lough Sheelin but the CDC Mayfly Moss will prove effective on any lough where mayfly hatch, and also in rivers.
Fishing flies

Mayfly Nymph Weighted

€2.92
This pattern is based on Richard Walker's famous Mayfly Nymph. A very useful point pattern at Mayfly time.Weighted fly. During the Mayflies (Ephemera danica) season, this nymph is used on the point with a team of Mayflies wets on the droppers.The Mayfly Nymph Weighted also works in rivers during the Mayfly emergence.
€2.92
This is an old mayfly nymph pattern from Lough Erne in County Fermanagh which is now popular all over Ireland. During the Mayflies (Ephemera danica) season, this nymph is used on the point with a team of Mayflies wets on the droppers.The Crannogue Brown Mayfly Nymph also works in rivers during the Mayfly emergence.
€2.10
The Procter's Twinkle Wing Spinner is an innovative imitation of the Mayfly Spinner and Spent (imago & spent).Developed by Paul Procter, one of Europe's leading dry fly trout fishing specialists and a renowned fishing guide.Paul says :“Many mayfly patterns are too rigid in construction. Loaded with CDC this twinkle-wing dressing possesses the busy...
€2.10
The Procter's Active Mayfly Emerger is an innovative imitation of the Mayfly Dun (subimago).Developed by Paul Procter, one of Europe's leading dry fly trout fishing specialists and a renowned fishing guide.Paul says : With it’s stuck-shuck and low riding attitude this compara dun tempts those edgy trout during the early days of Duffer’s.
€2.10
The Procter's Active Mayfly Emerger is an innovative imitation of the Mayfly Emerger.Developed by Paul Procter, one of Europe's leading dry fly trout fishing specialists and a renowned fishing guide. Paul says:“With a mobile marabou shuck, you’d be hard pressed to beat this pattern when mayfly are hatching off.”
The OE Mayfly Nymph Barbless is an ultra-realistic mayfly nymph that literally "lives" when animated.It was the late Oliver Edwards who developed* this remarkable imitation that should not only be admired, but immersed and brought to life.A trout magnet, especially at the beginning of the Mayfly (Ephemera danica) emergence, but also throughout the season...
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