Yellow Drake

Overview: The Yellow Drake (Ephemera varia) is a large and elegant mayfly, known for its consistent hatches during summer evenings, typically starting in June and lasting through August depending on elevation. Found in clean, slow-moving rivers and lakes with silty or sandy bottoms, this species is famous for drawing trout to the surface in search of its large, easy-to-catch duns and spinners. Despite its name, the Yellow Drake features a subtle creamy off-white and pale yellow body, requiring careful fly selection to match its natural appearance.

Nymph Stage: Yellow Drake nymphs are burrowers, well-adapted to soft substrates. They measure 3/4 to 1 inch in length, with robust, golden-brown bodies and large gills along their sides. Effective nymph patterns are tied on hook sizes 8 to 10. Fish these patterns near the bottom with a slow retrieve or dead drift, focusing on silty areas or undercut banks where trout actively search for nymphs preparing to emerge.

Emerger Stage (Subsurface): Yellow Drake emergers are large and float just below the surface, struggling to shed their nymphal shuck. This vulnerable stage makes them a prime target for trout. Emergers are pale yellow to creamy white with translucent wing pads. Fly patterns tied on hook sizes 10 to 12, such as soft hackles or emerger-style flies, work well. Fish them just under the surface film with a lift-and-swing presentation or a slow drift during the pre-hatch period.

Adult Stage (Dry): Adult Yellow Drakes are about 3/4 to 1 inch long, with creamy off-white to pale yellow bodies and clear, veined wings. Dry fly patterns tied on hook sizes 10 to 12 are ideal for imitating freshly emerged duns. Fish these flies with a dead drift in calm pools or slow-moving seams, focusing on the evening hatch when duns are most active. Later in the evening, spinner patterns with slender, translucent wings are effective as adults return to lay eggs near the surface.