Northern California’s Pit River is majestic and wild. On this
boulder-laden stretch of richly productive trout water, a fly angler
called Dave Sloan was inspired to create the perfect mayfly nymph.
Itching to replicate the notch he observed in the wing case of a local Pit River
Baetis, Sloan rushed home to his vise and got to work.
Sloan settled on the common turkey feather, and as he says
“colored it black, and epoxied it.”
Sloan’s Bead Head Mighty May Hendrickson fly pattern
is an extremely effective choice when imitating mature Hendrickson (or
Isonychia) nymphs. It’s got a black bead that’ll give your offering a
sweetly seductive underwater profile – not as garish as a shiny gold
bead. From the Pit River to your home water, Dave Sloan’s Mighty May
Hendrickson nymph’s notched, epoxied wing case still steals the show.
Specifications:
- This fly pattern was developed by Dave Sloan while guiding clients on the Pit River in Northern California
- The Mighty May nymph series is defined by the dark, notched, and epoxy coated wing case
- Hendrickson imitation in the mature nymph 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)
- Nymphs 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
- Use a high stick nymphing technique through really fast riffles
- When targeting fish during a prolific hatch, cast upstream and drift through the main current
- Hendrickson nymphs can work quite well during heavy Isonychia hatches as well
- When using the Hendrickson nymph 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 Sloan’s Bead Head Mighty May Hendrickson
This
mayfly nymph 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.
These reddish-brown nymphs are prolific in northeastern North America
from spring (April) to early summer (June). Hendrickson nymphs use
their low center of gravity and banded legs to cling to and crawl among
the rocky debris of their moderate to high energy environments. They
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 Sloan’s Bead Head Mighty May 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. 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.
High stick nymphing techniques through fast water and well-defined
current seams can also be highly effective when fishing with a
Hendrickson nymph.
Hendrickson nymphs 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 nymph.
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 Nymph 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. For the bulk of their time in the
larval stage, Hendricksons 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. Nymphs and emergers can be
active throughout the day when a hatch is on, so it never hurts the
early season angler to stock some Hendrickson nymphs in their fly box.
About the Tyer: Dave Sloan
If
you find yourself near rivers with names like the Pit, Yuba, Truckee,
or the Upper Sac, you probably won’t be too far away from Mr. Dave
Sloan, one of Northern California’s better fly fishing resources. In
addition to running a legendary guiding service, Dave works and lives
in California’s capitol city of Sacramento where he runs a wide variety
of educational programs for fly fishers and fly tyers of all stripes.
Dave is passionate about the sport of fly fishing and has built a solid
reputation in the American West. Dave has licensed several of his
innovative fly designs to Umpqua Feather Merchants for wider production
and distribution, and his Mighty May nymph series has taken many trout
waters by storm! Dave continues to innovate and push the limits of both
fly fishing technique and fly tying, so keep an eye out for Sloan’s
next wicked fly!
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.”
