Our task is to reduce the numbers of imitations in our fly box but without affecting our ability to match the hatch. In Maine there are really only six out of the 16 Families that are of any real importance to the fly fisher. Yes, I know that all the other mayfly families can catch fish. But you have heard me more than once admitting that I play the odds and like to keep things simple. Remember the 142 species of mayfly in northern New England, well I know how to get rid of 128 of them, and here is how it's done. Many mayfly families simply don't do well this far north and therefore emerge sparsely and infrequently, resulting in a hatch that seldom becomes the prominent species, so I didn't consider them at all. A large number of early and mid-season species were not considered because they are simply outclassed by more significant mayfly and caddisfly hatches. Others were not considered simply because they don't emerge until after dark and most anglers don't or won't fish after dusk. I then eliminated several species that emerge only sporadically throughout the day. Some May Flies only emerge for a few days then just disappear. Now, although for those very few days they may be the dominant species, you would have to be very lucky to be there when the hatch occurred, so their importance is very questionable. Another fact that helped reduce the numbers were imitations that can quite easily imitate more than one family, genus and species of mayfly. The last groups to be eliminated were those whose differences were so minimal that only a trained entomologist could tell the difference and even though fish can be very selective during an actual emergence, even the smartest wouldn't be able to tell the difference.

Now, I know that every fly eliminated will catch fish on any given day with the right circumstances but we still have within our box an imitation that will be just as effective. Always remember that a few minutes spent searching for the most prominent insect emergence will eliminate countless hours of pure angling misery.

So, I concentrated my efforts on the selection of flies that will cover the most prominent hatches and yet still be able to imitate other species the same time. By doing this, the angler can have the ability to reflect the characteristics of several different species and can cover a multitude of selection errors, at the same time.

The end result is a list of 14 flies that should provide a very close match for almost any circumstance that the Maine angler might encounter. These 14 Mayflies are also numbered based on their probable emergence dates and periods of prominence.

These crawling mayfly nymphs hang out in medium fast riffles that have a gravel, pebble or medium-sized rocky bottom. They are 3-tailed flat-bodied nymphs that are colored yellowish-green or almost chartreuse. Emergence will take place downstream from the riffled areas, in the slower sections and side-currants that separate the riffled area from the run. The emerging nymphs will make several attempts to reach the surface, creating an inviting scene of hundreds of wiggly nymphs rising toward the surface causing nearby fish to take advantage of this activity.

Once the nymphal shuck is split several inches below the surface, the newly emerged dun will break the surface tension and sit on the waters surface.

While on the surface, the dun will spread its wing and allow them to dry in order to support flight. During this period, the dun will float freely in the wind like a small sailboat. The mayfly's color will quickly change from a yellowish-green to a medium olive. By the time the new Blue Winged Olive flies to the nearest shrubbery and completes the last molt, the color will once again change to a dirty, dark olive.

Like other early-season species, the attenuata nymph splits its shuck while still on the bottom and rises to the waters surface as a dun. Hatching usually will take place around 9 A.M. until early afternoon. Both the slightly larger cornuta and attenuata hatches will overlap one another but the cornuta species are usually more prominent, so plan accordingly. Check for the signals that will reveal the fish's preference for either sub-surface or surface takes. The glassy-winged adult (imago) spinner will return to the riffles within a 24-hour period. After mating in-flight over the riffles, the female will deposit her fertilized eggs by dropping the egg sacs onto the fast waters surface before falling back to earth as a spent-spinner along with the male.

Tactics

Check the water for rises which will indicate the fish's preference. If you see bulging or the flash of white color from the fishes open mouth, your best bet is to fish below surface. Use a wet or nymphal pattern and cast up and across. Then let the imitation sink and allow for a drag-free drift to the point where the line will force the fly up to the surface. Place your cast so that the ascending nymph or wet will rise just in front of a suspected lie.

If you want to allow the imitation to drift just below the surface, then grease the tippet from the butt section to within 6 inches of the fly. Now you can cast either up or down for a drag-free drift to the area you suspect a feeding fish will take the offering.

If the fish seem to be concentrating on the surface duns, then the same cast up and across will allow the offering to glide drag-free across the lie. If no takes, let the fly drift beyond the lie before recasting upstream. That way you will not spook the fish and give yourself another chance.

• Don't forget to mend your line for that drag-free drift or use a Serpentine cast for your downstream presentations.

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