Red Quills and Brown Drakes

This group of mayflies represents a part of a family of mayflies that hatch during
the prime summer months of June through September. They range in size from
about hook sizes 14- 16, though some may get as big as a size 12. The nymphs
are strong clingers and can hold onto rocks even in the swiftest currents.
Even though they are strong, a good number of them end up in the drift and are
available year round to trout. More often though: they lose their grip as they
migrate to shore during the summer months to hatch. They are generally poor
swimmers but will thrash their bodies trying to get back to the stream bottom.

We actually don’t have any Brown Drakes in most of Colorado,
and there are none in Rocky Mountain National Park, the Big Thompson , South Platte or any other waters in the area.
Brown Drakes refers in angling literature to a type of burrowing mayfly. What you are seeing if you see brown colored
mayflies in the air is what is referred to as a Western March Brown, which we do have a lot of. Normally this bug is
associated with a brown mayfly that hatches in, you guessed it, March! However, it has been observed by the scientific
community that this insect hatches again during the summer, during the months of July and August! This is actually great
news for us here. The Western March Brown, even though a slightly different shape, is also a clinger mayfly inhabiting
the same place as the Red Quills! So you can use the same nymphs, just make sure that you a brownish dry fly in you
box in addition to a reddish color one for the Red Quills. The size is a little smaller and a size 16 or 14 should do the trick.

A pair of Western March Browns.
The one on the right has the wings
starting to come out and was close
to hatching.

Confidence Patterns
Prince Nymph, Pheasten Tail, Copper John

Look at the wings exploding out
the top! The same size and shape
as the bugs pictured above
except in a gray color!