Hatch Chart -- Western US

Hatch charts can help you pick out the appropriate flies and tackle that you are likely to need for an upcoming fly fishing trip. They should never be taken as gospel, but rather as a general guide to expected aquatic insect activity. Weather and water conditions can cause significant changes in the timing and duration of the hatches, but in the Eastern United States they usually happen in the same order each year.

Click on the links for each fly to take you to our favorite recommendations for imitating a specific insect. You can then purchase the right flies for a hatch, or if you are a fly tier, you will find the pattern listing for these flies. Note that many of the patterns are offered in different sizes; choose the sizes listed on the hatch chart for the most accurate imitation.

If you’d rather purchase flies in prepared selections, we offer the following hatch-specific fly selections:

Terrestrial Fly Selection Western Trout - Spring Fly Selection
Prince Fly Selection San Juan Fly Selection
Western Tailwater Fly Selection

"Your best source for current information will be a local company-owned retail store or Orvis dealer."

Click Here to view Hatch Charts for the Eastern and Mid-Western United States


Western Fly Hatches
Common Name
(Latin Name)
Fly Size Recommended Fly
(click on fly name to view)
Mar Apr May June July Aug Sept Oct
Midge
(Chironomidae
)
16-26

Nymph

Emerger  
Adult
Western March Brown
( R. morrisoni)
12-14 Nymph Emerger                
Adult  
Little Olive
(B. tricaudatus)
16-20 Nymph Emerger                
Dun Spinner
Brachycentrus
Caddis
(various)
12-18 Nymph Emerger        
Adult Spent Adult
Slate Gray Dun
(E. longimanus)
12-14 Nymph Emerger                
Dun Spinner
Pale Morning Dun
(E.infrequens
/inermis
)
14-18 Nymph Emerger        
Dun Spinner
Salmon Fly
(P. californica)
4-8 Nymph Adult                
Rhyacophila Caddis
(various)
12-16 Nymph Emerger      
Adult Spent Adult
Western Green
Drake
(D. grandis)
10-12 Nymph Emerger              
Dun Spinner
Brown Drake
(E. simulans)
8-10 Nymph Emerger                
Dun Spinner
Small Western
Drake
(E. flavilinea)
14-16 Nymph Emerger              
Dun Spinner
Spotted Sedge
(H. occidentalis)
14-16 Nymph Emerger                    
Adult Spent Adult
Slate Cream Dun
(E. albertae)
14-18 Nymph Emerger                
Dun Spinner
Western Red Quill
(H. elegantula)
14-16 Nymph Emerger                
Dun Spinner
Speckle Wing Quill
(C. coloradensis nigritus)
14-16 Nymph Emerger                
Dun Spinner
Western Gray Drake
(S. occidentalis)
10-12 Nymph Emerger                  
Dun Spinner
Trico
(T. minutus)
20-24 Nymph Emerger          
Dun Spinner
Blue Winged Olive
(B. Parvus)
18-22 Nymph Emerger  
Dun Spinner
Mahogany Dun
(P. bicornuta)
18-20 Nymph Emerger                
Dun Spinner
Tiny BWO
(P. edmundsi)
20-24 Nymph Emerger                
Dun Spinner

BACK TO THE ORVIS FLY FISHING SHOP
Yellow Humpy Birchell's Hatching Midge Birchell's Hatching Midge CDC Emerging Caddis

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