Fountains of Youth – Classic trout flies that have withstood the test of time … flies that remain “forever young”
by Rusty Dunn
At some point between mid-April and mid-May in the East and upper Midwest, fly anglers begin acting a bit strangely. Furtive glances out the windows, sweaty palms, agitated conversations, quick peeks at the clock. Such actions reveal an unmistakable sense of urgency. Worried friends inquire, “Is everything OK?”. Fly-fishing friends, however, recognize the symptoms, smile knowingly, and plan accordingly. They exchange whispered messages, reschedule appointments, evade requests for time commitments, and prepare for one the angling year’s highpoints – the hatch of Hendrickson mayflies.
Hendricksons are the first large mayfly of spring, and their hatches are steeped in tradition. They emerge on spring afternoons when stream temperatures reach 50-52 degrees. Female duns are pinkish creamish grayish brown and imitated by a Hendrickson dry fly. Hendrickson males are smaller, more reddish in color, and imitated by a Red Quill. Remarkably, female and male Hendricksons can hatch in different parts of a stream. One riffle might yield mostly females, while another yields mostly males. Hendricksons of Wisconsin are sporadic, but if you encounter a good hatch, you will probably never forget it. After a winter of short rations, even the big fish join the feast when Hendricksons are on the wing.
The Hendrickson dry fly is an American classic. It was developed by Roy Steenrod of Liberty, NY, who was a fish and game officer of New York state for 26 years. His warden responsibilities included the Beaverkill, Esopus, Neversink, and Willowemoc Rivers, all of which are sacred temples of American fly fishing:. Steenrod learned fly tying from the great Theodore Gordon, founder of the “Catskill style” of dry flies. Gordon modified proven English fly patterns to imitate native insects of Catskill rivers and to float better on America’s more turbulent waters. The “Hallowed Four” of Gordon, Steenrod, Herman Christian, and Edward Hewitt refined the style over many years, bringing it to full flower and peak influence about 1915 or 1920. The Catskill style dominated American dry-fly patterns for several decades. Steenrod, more than anyone else, was responsible for teaching the Catskill tying style to future generations. He taught fly tying at schools, Boy Scout meetings, churches, clubs, his home and anywhere that interested students would gather.
Steenrod tied the first Hendrickson in 1916 to match mayfly duns of the Beaverkill River. After two years of glorious success, he named the fly after his best friend and fishing companion, Mr. A.E. Hendrickson. The name ‘Hendrickson’ has since become synonymous with both the insect (three distinct Ephemerella species) and both light and dark versions of the fly. Steenrod’s original pattern specified a body of “fawn colored” red fox fur. Art Flick, in his influential 1947 book Streamside Guide to Naturals and Their Imitation, refined the body material to the faintly pink and now infamous “urine burned belly fur from a vixen red fox”. Thus began fly tiers’ endless quest for an authentic but elusive dubbing.
“Catskill” is a style, not a pattern. Catskill flies are light, airy, and strikingly beautiful. They originated with Gordon, were refined by the Hallowed Four, and nurtured in succeeding decades by legendary fly tiers, including Reuben Cross, Elsie & Harry Darbee, Art Flick, Walt & Winnie Dette, Mary Dette Clark, and others. Harry Darbee eloquently described the Catskill tying style in his delightful 1977 book Catskill Flytier:
“A good-sized hook, typically size 12 Model Perfect; a notably lean, spare body, usually of spun fur or stripped quill of peacock herl; a divided wing of lemon-colored, mottled barbules of a wood duck flank feather; and a few sparse turns of an incredibly stiff, clean, glassy cock’s hackle, mostly either blue dun or ginger.”
If your fishing companions seem agitated or impatient in the next few weeks, just smile knowingly. Then, tie some Hendricksons, reschedule those appointments, and be on the lookout for one of the country’s most celebrated and historic mayfly hatches.
Copyright 2026, Rusty Dunn
Light Hendrickson (Art Flick)
Urine burned belly fur from a vixen red fox is difficult to source, but many excellent pinkish-creamish-grayish-brownish Hendrickson dubbing blends are commercially available.
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Hook:
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Dry fly hook, #12 – #14
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|
Thread:
|
Pale yellow
|
|
Tail:
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Blue dun rooster hackle fibers, length slightly longer than hook shank
|
|
Body:
|
Pale pink urine-stained belly fur of a vixen red fox, thin and slightly tapered
|
|
Wing:
|
Wood duck flank fibers, upright and divided length equal to hook shank
|
|
Hackle:
|
Blue dun rooster
|
Light Hendrickson (Art Flick)
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Last Updated: April 7, 2026 by Drew Kasel
by Rusty Dunn
At some point between mid-April and mid-May in the East and upper Midwest, fly anglers begin acting a bit strangely. Furtive glances out the windows, sweaty palms, agitated conversations, quick peeks at the clock. Such actions reveal an unmistakable sense of urgency. Worried friends inquire, “Is everything OK?”. Fly-fishing friends, however, recognize the symptoms, smile knowingly, and plan accordingly. They exchange whispered messages, reschedule appointments, evade requests for time commitments, and prepare for one the angling year’s highpoints – the hatch of Hendrickson mayflies.
Hendricksons are the first large mayfly of spring, and their hatches are steeped in tradition. They emerge on spring afternoons when stream temperatures reach 50-52 degrees. Female duns are pinkish creamish grayish brown and imitated by a Hendrickson dry fly. Hendrickson males are smaller, more reddish in color, and imitated by a Red Quill. Remarkably, female and male Hendricksons can hatch in different parts of a stream. One riffle might yield mostly females, while another yields mostly males. Hendricksons of Wisconsin are sporadic, but if you encounter a good hatch, you will probably never forget it. After a winter of short rations, even the big fish join the feast when Hendricksons are on the wing.
The Hendrickson dry fly is an American classic. It was developed by Roy Steenrod of Liberty, NY, who was a fish and game officer of New York state for 26 years. His warden responsibilities included the Beaverkill, Esopus, Neversink, and Willowemoc Rivers, all of which are sacred temples of American fly fishing:. Steenrod learned fly tying from the great Theodore Gordon, founder of the “Catskill style” of dry flies. Gordon modified proven English fly patterns to imitate native insects of Catskill rivers and to float better on America’s more turbulent waters. The “Hallowed Four” of Gordon, Steenrod, Herman Christian, and Edward Hewitt refined the style over many years, bringing it to full flower and peak influence about 1915 or 1920. The Catskill style dominated American dry-fly patterns for several decades. Steenrod, more than anyone else, was responsible for teaching the Catskill tying style to future generations. He taught fly tying at schools, Boy Scout meetings, churches, clubs, his home and anywhere that interested students would gather.
Steenrod tied the first Hendrickson in 1916 to match mayfly duns of the Beaverkill River. After two years of glorious success, he named the fly after his best friend and fishing companion, Mr. A.E. Hendrickson. The name ‘Hendrickson’ has since become synonymous with both the insect (three distinct Ephemerella species) and both light and dark versions of the fly. Steenrod’s original pattern specified a body of “fawn colored” red fox fur. Art Flick, in his influential 1947 book Streamside Guide to Naturals and Their Imitation, refined the body material to the faintly pink and now infamous “urine burned belly fur from a vixen red fox”. Thus began fly tiers’ endless quest for an authentic but elusive dubbing.
“Catskill” is a style, not a pattern. Catskill flies are light, airy, and strikingly beautiful. They originated with Gordon, were refined by the Hallowed Four, and nurtured in succeeding decades by legendary fly tiers, including Reuben Cross, Elsie & Harry Darbee, Art Flick, Walt & Winnie Dette, Mary Dette Clark, and others. Harry Darbee eloquently described the Catskill tying style in his delightful 1977 book Catskill Flytier:
“A good-sized hook, typically size 12 Model Perfect; a notably lean, spare body, usually of spun fur or stripped quill of peacock herl; a divided wing of lemon-colored, mottled barbules of a wood duck flank feather; and a few sparse turns of an incredibly stiff, clean, glassy cock’s hackle, mostly either blue dun or ginger.”
If your fishing companions seem agitated or impatient in the next few weeks, just smile knowingly. Then, tie some Hendricksons, reschedule those appointments, and be on the lookout for one of the country’s most celebrated and historic mayfly hatches.
Copyright 2026, Rusty Dunn
Light Hendrickson (Art Flick)
Urine burned belly fur from a vixen red fox is difficult to source, but many excellent pinkish-creamish-grayish-brownish Hendrickson dubbing blends are commercially available.
Hook:
Dry fly hook, #12 – #14
Thread:
Pale yellow
Tail:
Blue dun rooster hackle fibers, length slightly longer than hook shank
Body:
Pale pink urine-stained belly fur of a vixen red fox, thin and slightly tapered
Wing:
Wood duck flank fibers, upright and divided length equal to hook shank
Hackle:
Blue dun rooster
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