The following is my personal opinion concerning the sequence of hatches and how you can simplify the process. Remember the following:
The one insect that will Hatch nearly year round is the Midge. As the lake clears the water warms and the Midge (Chironomid) hatch begins. This is the longest and strongest of all hatches lasting through April, May and part of June. This should tell you that it is one of the very first imitations to use in the spring. Another insect that is always around in the Nymphal stage is the Stonefly along with several Mayfly and Caddisfly species that have a life cycle of more than a year. Early fishing should include Boatman, Egg Patterns, Shrimp, Leeches and Dragonfly Nymphs.
May is most definitely Mayfly month and remember that the early Mayflies are all the same color and roughly the same size. Hint: Blue-Winged Olive and this species are multi-brooded with several generations' possible within a single season.
June brings the addition of the Caddisfly and one can enjoy a Caddis Hatch in the morning followed by a Mayfly Hatch in the afternoon.
July and August bring the real warm weather and the need to go deep with large Nymphal offerings, Dropper rigs using the combination of both Dry Midge and a dropper of Bloodworm. Near the shoreline and any area of aquatic vegetation you want to consider the use of Dragon and Damselfly offerings.
September finds cooler water and a secondary Chironomid hatch, as the weather gets even cooler and the first frosts occur, Water Boatman mating and egg laying flights begin. Later in September and October finds a return to the basic food chain, shrimp, leeches and dragons, but in very shallow areas of the water column. Then the last is the same as the first with the use of both Bloodworms and Roe Bugs during the months of both September and October.
| Hatch & Match | Emergence | Time | Hook Size |
|---|---|---|---|
| Paracapnia (Stonefly) Little Black Stone |
March 1 | AM & PM | 18 |
| Baetis Tricaudatus (Mayfly) Blue Wing Olive Dun Rusty Spinner |
March 15 | 10a.m. to 6p.m. | 16-20 |
| Callibaetis (Mayfly) Speckle-Winged Dun Speckled-Winged Spinner |
April 1 | A.M. & P.M. | 14 - 16 |
| Strophopteryx Fasciata (Stonefly) Early Brown Stonefly |
April 10 | Afternoon | 14 |
| Paraleptophlebia (Mayfly) Dark Blue Quill Dark Brown Spinner |
April 10 | 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Heaviest 2 - 4 p.m. Spinner 4 - 7 p.m. |
18 |
| Brachycentrus Solomoni (Caddisfly) Granno |
April 12 | A.M. & P.M. | 10 |
| Epeorus Pleuralis (Mayfly) Quill Gordon Dun Red Quill Spinner |
April 18 | 1 - 3 p.m. Spinner 11 - 2 p.m. |
14 |
| Rhithrogena Jejuna (Mayfly) Dark Quill Gordon Dun Quill Gordon Spinner |
April 18 | 1 - 3 p.m. | 14 |
| Siphloplecton Basale (Mayfly) Great Speckled Olive Dun Great Speckled Spinner |
April 18 | Early Afternoon | 10 or 12 |
| Brachycentrus Numerrosus (Caddisfly) Grannom |
April 23 | A.M. & P.M. | 12 |
| Ephemerella Subvaria (Mayfly) Male Red Quill Dun Female Hendrickson Dun Spinner Red Quill |
April 23 | Late a.m. to early p.m. | 12 - 16 |
| Leptophlebia Cupida (Mayfly) Black Quill Dun Early Brown Spinner |
April 25 | 2 - 4 p.m. Spinner 1 - 6 p.m. |
12 - 14 |
| Hatch & Match | Emergence | Time | Hook Size |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chimarra Atterima (Caddisfly) Little Black Caddis |
April 26 | 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. | 16 - 18 |
| Psilotreta Species (Caddisfly) Tan Caddis |
April 26 | A.M. & P.M. | 14 |
| Isoperla Signata (Stonefly) Light Stonefly |
May 8 | Afternoon | 12 - 14 |
| Ephemerella Rotunda (Mayfly) Pale Evening Dun Pale Evening Spinner |
May 10 | 2 - 8 p.m. Spinner 6 - 8 p.m. |
14 - 16 |
| Pseudocloeon Species (Mayfly) Blue Dun Rusty Spinner |
May 10 | Afternoon & Evening | 20 |
| Rhyacophila Lobifera (Caddisfly) Green Caddis |
May 10 | 4 - 9 p.m. Appears again at dusk during June & July |
14 |
| Baetis Flavistriga (Mayfly) Little Blue-Winged Dun Rusty Spinner |
May 10 | Morning | 20 |
| Brachycentrus Numerrosus (Caddisfly) Grannom |
May 10 | 3 - 7 p.m. | 12 |
| Baetis Quebecensis (Mayfly) Little Blue-Winged Olive Dun Rusty Spinner |
May 15 | Morning | 20 |
| Ephemerella Septentrionalis (Mayfly) Pale Evening Dun Pale Evening Spinner |
May 18 | Dusk | 14 - 16 |
| Leucrocuta Aphrodite (Heptagenia) (Mayfly) Pale Evening Dun Pale Evening Spinner |
May 18 | Dusk | 16 |
| Ephemerella Invaria (Mayfly) Pale Evening Dun Pale Evening Spinner |
May 20 | 3 - 8 p.m. | 16 - 18 |
| Stenonema Vicarium (Mayfly) American March Brown Dun Great Red Spinner |
May 20 | 10 - 7 p.m. | 12 |
| Symphitopsyche Slossanae (Caddisfly) Spotted Sedge |
May 23 | 1 - 6 p.m. | 14 - 16 |
| Eurylophella Bicolor (Ephemerella) (Mayfly) Chocolate Dun Chocolate Spinner |
May 25 | 10 a.m. - 2 p.m. | 16 |
| Siphlonurus Quebecensis (Mayfly) Gray Drake Dun Brown Quill Spinner |
May 25 | Evening | 14 |
| Alloperla Imbecilla (Stonefly) Little Green Stonefly |
June 5 | a.m. & p.m. | 16 |
| Psilotreta Frontalis (Caddisfly) Dark Blue Sedge |
June 8 | Dusk | 12 |
| Leptophlebia Johnsoni (Mayfly) Iron Blue Dun Jenny Male Spinner Blue Quill Female Spinner |
June 9 | 11 a.m. Evening Spinners |
14 - 16 |
| Hatch & Match | Emergence | Time | Hook Size |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dannella Lata (Ephemerella) (Mayfly) Blue-Winged Olive Dun Dark Olive Spinner |
June 12 | a.m. & p.m. | 16 |
| Serratella Simplex (Ephemerella) (Mayfly) Blue-Winged Olive Dun Dark Olive Spinner |
June 15 | Spinners Evening Dun Morning |
20 |
| Baetis Brunneicolor (Mayfly) Little Blue-Winged Olive Dun Rusty Spinner |
June 15 | a.m. & p.m. | 18 - 20 |
| Stenacron Interpunctatum Heterotarsale (Mayfly) Light Cahill Dun Light Cahill Spinner |
June 15 | Evening | 14 |
| Hepagenia Marginalis (Mayfly) Light Cahill Dun Olive Cahill Spinner |
June 15 | Dusk | 12 |
| Stenonema Pulchellum (Mayfly) Cream Cahill Dun Cream Cahill Spinner |
June 15 | Dun Mid-Day to evening | 12 - 14 |
| Siphlonurus Alternatus (Mayfly) Gray Drake Dun Brown Quill Spinner |
June 15 | a.m. & p.m. | 10 |
| Ephemera Varia (Mayfly) Yellow Drake Dun Yellow Drake Spinner |
June 22 | Late Dusk | 10 - 12 |
| Leucrocuta Hebe Heptagenia (Mayfly) Pale Evening Dun Pale Evening Spinner |
June 22 | Late Dusk | 16 |
| Paraleptophlebia Guttata (Mayfly) Dark Blue Quill Dun Jenny Male Spinner Dark Brown Spinner |
June 25 | Sporadic during the day Spinner a.m. & p.m. |
18 |
| Anthopotamus Distinctus Potamanthus (Mayfly) Golden Drake Dun Golden Spinner |
June 25 | 9 p.m. | 12 |
| Tricorythodes Stygiatus (Mayfly) Pale Olive Dun Dark Brown Male Spinner Reverse Jenny Female Spinner |
July 23 | 7 to 9 a.m. | 24 |
| Tricorythodes Atratus (Mayfly) Pale Olive Dun Dark Brown Male Spinner |
July 23 | 7 to 9 a.m. Spinner 8 a.m. |
24 |
| Spinneraenis Species (Mayfly) Little White Mayfly Dun White-Gloved Howdy Spinner |
July 25 | Evening | 26 |
| Isonychia Harperi (Mayfly) Slate Drake Dun White-Gloved Howdy Spinner |
July 25 | Sporadic during the day but mainly 7 p.m. |
12 |
| Acepenna Pygmaea Baetis (Mayfly) Little Blue-Winged Olive Dun Rusty Spinner |
August 1 | a.m. & p.m. | 22 |
| Ephoron Leukon (Mayfly) White Mayfly Dun White Mayfly Spinner |
August 15 | Early Dusk | 12 - 16 |
| Ephoron Album (Mayfly) White Mayfly Dun White Mayfly Spinner |
August 15 | Evening | 12 |
| Hexagenia Atrocaudata (Mayfly) Big Slate Drake Dun Dark Rusty Spinner |
August 18 | Late Dusk | 6 - 8 |
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