On the classic trout streams of the Northeastern United States, a
little Hendrickson nymph can go long way. When these rusty crawling
nymphs are on their way to becoming full blown winged mayflies, trout
just can't resist having a snack.
Barry Beck is a world-famous
fly fishing photographer and has been guiding and fishing the rich
waters near his home in Pennsylvania for years now and his experience
has taught him that the emerger is king when the Hendricksons are on
the move. Beck's Emerger - Hendrickson is a fantastic imitation of the
Hendrickson mayfly in its emerger life stage. This bug is designed with
short clipped wings, a thickly dubbed brown body, and a long trailing
shuck of lightly barred fibers. It's a dream when classic Hendrickson
nymphs begin to stir, and it also works well when imitating an emergent
Isonychia mayfly. Tie one on and find some fast water this spring!
Specifications:
- This clever and effective fly pattern was designed by globe-trotting fly fishing guide, photographer, author, and industry ambassador, Barry Beck
- A standard mayfly emerger tied in the brownish Hendrickson color, this fly makes use of a short, clipped wing, fuzzy dubbing, and long trailing shuck of lightly barred fibers
- Hendrickson imitation in the emerger life stage
- Use as either an impressionistic searching fly or as a realistic imitation when matching the hatch
- Hatches in eastern North America occur from spring (April) to early summer (June)
- Emergers are active throughout the day, making this nymph a fantastic searching pattern when the current hatch is unknown
- Fish on a dead drift in medium to fast water
- When targeting fish during a prolific hatch, cast upstream and drift through the main current
- Hendrickson emergers can work quite well during heavy Isonychia hatches as well
- When using the Hendrickson emerger to fish an Isonychia hatch, vary your presentation styles as these nymphs are quite mobile and could be anywhere within the river environment
- Trout strike quickly and aggressively when feeding on Isonychia, so be prepared to set the hook
- SIZE 14
When and Where to Fish Beck's Emerger – Hendrickson
This
mayfly emerger can be fished as either an impressionistic fly pattern
when searching for trout or as a realistic imitation when matching the
hatch. When searching, fish this fly in the well-oxygenated water of
faster riffles and current seams. Fish this fly pattern throughout the
day – these crawlers are generally quite active and can easily be found
in the drift in cool, clean waters with good temperature stability upon
emergence. These reddish-brown nymphs are prolific in northeastern
North America from spring (April) to early summer (June). Hendrickson
emergers are most vulnerable to feeding trout during their relatively
long emergence period and when they are caught in the drift by a strong
current.
How to Fish Beck's Emerger – Hendrickson
These
aquatic insects are not very strong swimmers, and on eastern trout
water in North America, it’s quite common to turn a rock over in the
springtime to find a prolific population of Hendrickson nymphs clinging
to the safety of the debris around them just prior to their emergence.
Because Hendricksons are commonly found in the medium to high energy
segments of river environments and aren’t strong swimmers, fly anglers
will find the most success presenting this fly on a dead drift through
medium or fast water. Look for well-oxygenated riffles, runs, and
current seams, make an upstream cast and mend, and drift the fly
through the main current.
Hendrickson emergers will also work quite well when fishing an Isonychia hatch. When fishing an Isonychia
hatch it’s a good idea to vary your presentation style and to be on the
lookout for trout feeding on emerging nymphs in slower water – if this
activity is visible, focus on these slower, more sheltered areas and
target the feeding fish with an upstream cast and a dead drift
presentation directly over the observed feeding lane. Gently moving the
rod tip up and down can imitate the short, jerky movements these
swimmers make while traveling to the surface to hatch. Because Isonychia
are some of the quickest insects in the water, watch out for
accordingly quick strikes from feeding fish; always be ready to lift
the rod tip and set the hook firmly and with confidence when fishing an
Isonychia emerger.
Hendrickson
These medium-sized crawling nymphs are revered
throughout the eastern United States for their prolific early-season
hatches in clean river systems. Hendricksons in the nymph stage are
easily identified by their small banded legs, large stout-looking
bodies, and three heavily fringed tails. These insects follow the
common life cycle of mayflies and thrive in temperature-stable,
well-oxygenated aquatic systems. They are prolific in faster riffles,
current seams, and the areas below these medium to high energy
environments. Hendricksons emerge to adult duns early in the season
(April – June), and as winged adults, these mayflies display
characteristic red eyes, reddish or olive abdomens, and prominent
banded tails. For fly fishing purposes, Hendrickson nymph and dun
patterns are great substitutes for the Isonychia and can yield fantastic results when fished during a heavy Isonychia hatch.
Hendrickson Emerger Life Stage
During
its nymph life stage, these wide-bodied crawlers are quite common in
the rocky substrate of high energy aquatic environments of good
clarity. Because their swimming ability is quite weak, these dark red
to brown colored nymphs are at their most vulnerable when swept into
the main drift by a strong current during emergence. Hendrickson
emergers will thus be effectively fished in the moderate to high energy
environments of riffles, runs, and current seams. Just prior to
hatching these awkward-swimming mayfly nymphs will gear up to make an
adventurous trip to the surface film to emerge to winged adults.
Hendrickson hatch throughout the eastern United States from early
spring (April) to early summer (June) and are considered one of the
great and classic eastern hatches. Emergers can be active throughout
the day when a hatch is on, so it never hurts the early season angler
to stock some Hendricksons in their fly box.
About the Tyer: Barry Beck
Experience
is everything in fly fishing and fly tying, and Barry Beck doesn't lack
in it. From his home base in the mountains of Pennsylvania, he's
managed to create a life of world travel, fishing countless hours and
photographing countless game fish species both common and exotic. His
images have appeared in virtually every fly fishing publication on the
market and his books are staples in angling libraries around the world.
He is contracted with Umpqua Feather Merchants, the leader in hand-tied
flies, to design creative and effective fly patterns, and his current
series ranges from nymphs for tricky trout to crabs for tailing
bonefish. Beck and his wife Cathy, also an accomplished photographer
and angler, serve as great ambassadors to the sport of angling and
their work is considered by many to be some of the best fly fishing art
in the modern era.
Leland on Umpqua
In
1972 a man named Dennis Black and his fly tying skills found themselves
in high demand. Mr. Black, then a professional production fly tyer, was
famous in the industry for his unsurpassed skill and speed with
whipping up tremendously beautiful and precisely constructed flies. It
wasn’t long until this young fly tying superstar realized that he ought
to take his consistent approach to quality to the next level. Shortly
after this realization, a small army of fly tyers had banded together
to support Mr. Black’s vision. With the likes of Dave Whitlock, Jack
Dennis, and Andy Puyans, Mr. Black was officially in business.
Dennis
Black’s new company Umpqua Feather Merchants quickly extended its reach
and fly production capabilities with expansion into India, Sri Lanka,
and Thailand, where the world’s first and full blown “fly tying
factories” were built. Since those early days, only the highest
standard of excellence has marked Umpqua and this commitment to quality
and efficiency continues to spur the company forward. Dennis Black’s
innovative vision for “fly production” has truly revolutionized how the
fly industry operates and has ultimately made the majority of
production flies better. From the first “royalty system” for rewarding
the most creative professional fly tyers to streamlining production
systems and offering a range of other products, Umpqua Feather
Merchants just seems to “do it all.”
Today, Umpqua Feather
Merchants is without a doubt the world’s best and most prolific
supplier of hand tied fly fishing flies as well as fly tying hooks and
materials, and they recently got better! Umpqua’s brand new, state of
the art headquarters in Louisville, Colorado marks another paradigm
shift in the way fly tying business is done. From its vast warehouse to
its specially designed inventory management and tracking system, Umpqua
is poised to continue its energetic trajectory and lead the way for the
next generation of flies and fly tyers.
Umpqua on Umpqua
"As
you may or may not know, we're the largest producer of quality
hand-tied flies in the world. We also make available through your local
fly shop a wide array of the finest fly-tying hackle and Tiemco hooks.
At
Umpqua we offer everything the angler needs to a have a first class
fishing experience. (Everything that is, but the water and the fish.)"
Umpqua on Dennis Black and the “Obvious Quest”
“The
idea first took shape in the hands of our founder, Dennis Black, back
in 1972. As a fast and facile professional fly tyer, Dennis was known
for his skill and speed at producing hundreds of dozens of flies each
year for the larger mail order houses. But he was also quick to realize
how fast the demand for excellent flies would outstrip the abilities of
cottage industry types like him.
The Obvious Quest: To create
excellent flies in sufficient supply – without sinking his standards.
In response, Dennis developed (with characteristic care) a methodical
plan: First, he enlisted the tying expertise of the likes of Dave
Whitlock, Jack Dennis, Andy Puyans and others, to help him set the
standard of excellence for Umpqua flies.
Next, Dennis
established the first of what would eventually be five separate
fly-tying “factories,” first in India, then in Sri Lanka, and finally
in Thailand. The primary focus at each of these factories was on
producing the very best fishing flies possible, constructed of the very
best materials available. From the beginning, the quantity of flies
produced was secondary to the quality and excellence of each fly
pattern. These high standards were assured by the personal involvement
of the fly designers themselves, and by the ever-increasing skill,
imagination and creativity of the Umpqua production fly tiers. Today,
you will find no flies more skillfully tied than those available from
Umpqua Feather Merchants.
Finally, Dennis created a system of
royalty payments, to reward professional tyers like Whitlock, Lefty
Kreh, Randall Kaufman, Larry Dahlberg, and Bob Popovics for uniquely
good patterns.
The Result: Today, Umpqua produces umpteen
thousand dozen flies, from micro-scopic midge imitations to the huge
patterns favored by marlin and sailfish. And the "Umpquality" – you’ll
see for yourself."
