Dark Hendrickson

The Dark Hendrickson is a classic dry fly used to imitate the darker male insects of the Hendrickson mayfly hatch, which are also commonly called Red Quills. This important spring hatch provides some of the first consistent dry-fly fishing of the season across much of the eastern and midwestern United States. Dark Hendricksons are usually tied in sizes 12 and 14 and presented with a drag-free dead drift to rising trout. Carrying both Dark and Light Hendricksons is useful because the males and females differ noticeably in color, and trout may favor one over the other. Traditional Catskill-style versions require careful proportions, particularly when dividing the upright wings and balancing the tail and hackle.

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