May Fly Spinners - May Fly Old Age
Every fly fisherman dreams of a “heavy spinner fall’. The dead and dying adult may flies can cover the water in staggering numbers, and can be overwhelming. Pinpoint presentation can be crucial, as often the fish will not move out their narrow feeding lane to take a fly.
The skinny thread or tinsel abdomen and...
May Fly Spinners - May Fly Old Age
Every fly fisherman dreams of a “heavy spinner fall’. The dead and dying adult may flies can cover the water in staggering numbers, and can be overwhelming. Pinpoint presentation can be crucial, as often the fish will not move out their narrow feeding lane to take a fly.
The skinny thread or tinsel abdomen and oversized thorax in the smaller sizes does something to the trout. The mixture of realism and impressionism in this pattern often makes the fish move to take it and the rise instead of being the classic “spinner sip” becomes a slashing or crashing take. I don't know why the fish react that way, and I don't really care. If you get the fly close to the fish, they will take it. It is a “no refusal” fly.
The larger patterns of the Brown Drake, Iso and Hex have the same important characteristics with the addition of a hair body.
Spinners can be difficult to see on the water. Since most spinner falls take place from dusk to dark, I have added a fluorescent yellow indicator. You can see fluorescent yellow longer in the dark than fluorescent white
May Fly Spinner Patterns:
Yellow Butt (Egg Layer), Rusty Spinner, Opal Spinner, Opal Butt Trico, Brown Drake, Iso, Hex