Quill Gordons (Epeorus pleuralis) begin hatching in April just as the Little Blue Quill hatch starts to wane. For a period of time, both Quill Gordon and Little Blue Quill mayflies will be on the water at the same time, and you may see duns and spinners on the water simultaneously. It’s often the first truly thoughtful hatch-matching of the season, as fish feeding at the surface have options. (Cathy & Barry Beck photo)
We have a friend, Phil, who only fishes dry flies. It doesn’t matter to Phil if he catches a fish or not, he simply likes to stay on top. Mention a favorite nymph pattern and he’s likely to give you a hard stare and heaven forbid you show him a Squirmy Wormie or a Mop Fly, he will dish out a verbal lesson (more of a rant) about fishing the dark side.
Phil is lucky enough to live in a beautiful streamside cabin on an eastern Pennsylvania freestone trout stream, so when the trout are rising, he’s living the dream. When they’re not rising he still strings up his favorite bamboo fly rod, ties on a Crackleback, his favorite attractor fly, and takes his rod for a...