A couple of weeks ago, I wrote about PMD spinner fly patterns and shared the Ellis Triple Wing Spinner as a TBT post. Spinners have continued to be a focus in my fly fishing and fly tying. I thought I’d share a few more mayfly spinners.
Spinner fishing can be terrific. But locating the spinners and finding when a spinner fall happens, and if the fish are eating them can be tricky.
Here is an image of a spinner I recently found floating in a side eddy.
Notice how the clear, reflective wings are splayed flat on the water. Most fly patterns emulate this profile.
Another image of the same insect.
Eddies are a great collection point for insects floating down the river and available to fish. I’d call them little food conveyors. If you spend time watching an eddy, pay attention to the insects floating along the edges. It will provide insights about what insects are available to the trout.
Some days you won’t find any insects at all. Other days, this is what you’ll find.
The image above doesn’t include any spinners, but it’s an example of what you can find if you pay attention.
Here is an image of the spinner wings in upright position.
Mayfly spinners are not easy to find as they float down river. Sometimes it is easier to see them if you get closer to the water, perhaps wading. This is a Rusty Spinner, the last phase of a PMD.
And a Green Drake Spinner
Notice how the wings are together and the insect is floating sideways in the water.
Another image of a Green Drake spinner.
I continued to tie up some Galloup’s Compara Spinner last week.
Here is a variant using turkey biots for the body.
It’s a fly I plan to use when I have problems finding the Rusty Spinner – Biot Body.
We’ve just started fishing Galloup’s Compara Spinner and it’s tricked one fish so far. I like the way it floats in the water, plus it’s very visible with the Compara Dun style wing!
The differences between the two flies are minimal, but adding the wing may be all it takes to make it easier picking up the fly floating on the water.
On the water.
This might be my new favorite spinner pattern. Like many flies I fish, I pick a style and tie it in different sizes and colors. My RiverKeeper Soft Hackle Cripple and the famous Sparkle Dun are two examples of flies I fish contently to imitate any mayfly.
Here are links to a few other posts I’ve created over the years about the mayfly life cycle and spinners:
- Mayfly Spinners
- Pale Morning Duns – PMDs
- Importance of Mayfly Spinners
- Callibaetis Mayfly Life Cycle and Fly Imitations
Enjoy…go fish, stay safe!
