How to Tie the Hendrickson Dry Fly

The Hendrickson is an Ephemerella mayfly common in the midwestern and eastern United States. The insect is available to trout as a nymph, emerger and dry fly. The adult sits on the surface of the water for several seconds after emerging. The adult mayfly is vulnerable as it rests on the surface, and hungry trout take advantage by gulping the insects in an obvious manner. Tying the dry fly to imitate the adult requires knowledge of your local Hendrickson hatch. Be prepared to match dark brown and light yellow versions of the mayfly.

Things You'll Need

  • Vise
  • Dry fly hook, size 12 to 16
  • 8/0 yellow thread
  • Gray hackle
  • Mallard flank feather
  • Yellow or brown synthetic dubbing
  • Whip finish tool
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Instructions

    • 1

      Secure the hook in the vise and wrap the thread from the one-half point on the shank to the bend.

    • 2

      Cut a thin layer of gray hackle fibers and measure the fibers to 1-1/2 times the length of the hook. Hold the fibers on the bend and make 10 thread wraps to secure them as a long tail. Cut the base of the fibers off the hook.

    • 3

      Wrap the thread two-thirds of the distance up the hook shank. Cut a large chunk of mallard flank fibers and measure to match the length of the hook shank. Hold the fibers on the hook with the tips pointing toward the eye. Make 10 thread wraps to secure the fibers and cut the base of the fibers off the hook.

    • 4

      Pull the tips of the mallard fibers into a vertical position. Make five helicopter wraps around the base of the fibers to hold them in the vertical position. Divide the fibers in half and make 10 helicopter wraps around the base of each half to create two mayfly wings. Wrap the thread to the bend.

    • 5

      Hold a thin layer of synthetic yellow or brown dubbing against the thread. Twist the material between your fingers to spin it on the thread. Wrap the thread from the bend to the base of the wing to build a thin abdomen.

    • 6

      Stroke the tip of a gray hackle fiber to expose the tip fibers. Hold the tip at the base of the wing and make 10 thread wraps to hold it on the hook. Wrap the thread to the hook eye.

    • 7

      Wind the hackle three times between the abdomen and wing. Wind the hackle between the wing and hook eye until you reach the eye. Make 10 thread wraps to hold the hackle and cut the extra hackle feather off the hook.

    • 8

      Half hitch the thread 10 times with a whip finish tool. Hook each end of the tool on the thread and spin the handle to rotate the thread around the hook eye. Pull on the thread to tighten the knot and cut the thread off the hook.