Black Quill
Adult coloration
Brown
Yellow
Active water temp
52-58°F
Description
Overview
The Black Quill is a larger mayfly (order Ephemeroptera) that emerges primarily in spring. It isn't known for dense hatches, but its nymphs are a preferred trout food source, found in slower-moving water and soft-bottomed streams where their presence signals an easy meal. Emergence can provide strong fishing when other hatches are sparse.
Nymph
Nymphs run 1/2 to 3/4 inch, dark brown to blackish with lighter, mottled markings and a slender, streamlined shape. They're sprawlers rather than clingers, working through debris and soft sediment in slower water. Dead-drifting nymph patterns along the bottom is highly effective, especially in the pre-hatch period when trout feed heavily. Hook sizes: 10 to 14.
Dry/Dun/Spinner
Adults run about 1/2 to 3/4 inch, dark brown to black with lighter undersides and semi-translucent, smoky wings. Hatches typically run mid-morning to early afternoon in spring, often on calm water, and rising trout strike aggressively when duns are drifting on the surface. Hook sizes: 10 to 12.
Curated by the IdentaFly fly fishing team.
