Overview

The May Day is a mayfly dun pattern in Umpqua's dry fly line, built to match two hatches that bring big trout to the surface: Pale Morning Duns and Callibaetis. It has the upright wing, slim body and tail that trout look for when they are keyed on adult mayflies.

Mayfly duns ride the surface while their wings dry, and that is when trout eat them steadily and selectively. A fly with the right size, color and posture is often more important than anything else during these hatches, and that is what the May Day is designed to deliver. PMDs hatch on rivers and spring creeks through summer, while Callibaetis is the classic lake and pond mayfly.

How to Fish It

• Dead drift: present it drag-free on 5X or 6X tippet to rising fish, leading them by a foot or two.
• Reach casts: on slow, glassy water, use a reach mend or downstream presentation so the fly reaches the fish before the leader.
• Stillwater Callibaetis: cast near cruising fish and let it sit. A tiny twitch now and then can draw a look.
• Keep it dry: treat it with floatant before fishing and use a desiccant after each fish.

Choosing Color and Size

PMD matches Pale Morning Duns on rivers and spring creeks from late spring through summer. Callibaetis matches the speckled-wing mayfly common on lakes, ponds and slow water.

Sizes 14 and 16 cover most PMD hatches. Go to 18 for small late-season PMDs, and 12 or 14 for early Callibaetis, which often run larger.