Eastern Green Drake

Overview:

The Eastern Green Drake (Ephemera guttulata) is one of the largest Mayflies found on eastern trout waters and is well known for its heavy late-spring and early-summer hatches. Its large size makes it an important seasonal food source, often bringing larger trout to the surface. Adults are easily recognized by their large body, mottled wings with prominent wing venation, and three long tails. The spent spinner is commonly known to anglers as the Coffin Fly.

Nymph Stage:

Eastern Green Drake nymphs are burrowers that live in the soft sand, silt, and gravel of slower sections of rivers and streams. They have elongated bodies, strong digging legs, and typically reach about ½ to 1 inch in length. Prior to a hatch, the nymphs become more active as they leave their burrows and move toward the surface. Nymph patterns in sizes #6–10 can be effective when fished close to the bottom or lifted through the water column as emergence approaches.

Adult Stage:

Adult Eastern Green Drakes are large mayflies, generally around 1 to 1½ inches long, with mottled wings and three distinct tails. Hatches often occur during the evening, when duns emerge and ride the surface before taking flight. Dry flies in sizes #6–10 are commonly used to imitate them. Later, the adults return as spinners, with the pale-bodied Coffin Fly spinner fall creating one of the most recognizable events of the hatch. During a heavy emergence or spinner fall, trout may become highly focused on these large mayflies, creating excellent dry-fly opportunities.

Curated by the IdentaFly fly fishing team.