Insect Field Guide & Hatch Chart
Insect Field Guide
Our chapter is very fortunate to have Mike Cole as one of its active members. Mike is an expert in the field of aquatic insects and their fascinating life cycles. With funding from Trout Unlimited national and the River’s Calendar Project, Mike carefully researched and wrote “A Field Guide To Common Aquatic Insect Hatches in Massachusetts”, a 45 page compendium of information complete with stunning photos of the nymphs, duns and spinners of the major hatches on Massachusetts waters.
CLICK HERE to view this useful reference guide. It is an entomological gem and a great resource for anglers fly fishing The Deerfield River.
Hatch Chart
| Time of Year | Insect | Pattern |
| March – November | Midges (Diptera Chironimidae) | Adult & Pupa – Yellow, Black, Grey #18-26 Click for photos & info |
| March – Mid April | Winter Stonefly (Taeniopterygidae) | Adults – Black OR Mahogany w/ grey wings #16-18 Click for photos & info |
| April – Early May | Little Blue Quills (Paraleptophlebia adoptiva) | Blue Quill #18 Click for photos & info |
| April – November | Little Blue Winged Olives (Baetis) | BWO # 18‐24 Click for photos & info |
| April – May | Quill Gordon (Epeorus pluralis) | Quill Gordon/ Red Quill dry #14 Click for photos & info |
| Mid-April – May | Hendrickson (Ephemerella subvaria) | Light Hendrickson dry #14 Click for photos & info |
| Mid-April – September | Yellow Sally (Chloroperlidae/ Perlodidae) | Yellow Sally dry #14‐18 Click for photos & info |
| May – August | Blue Winged Olive (Drunella) | BWO dry #16‐18 Click for photos & info |
| May – Early June | Grannom Caddis (Brachycentrus) | Henryville Special dry #14‐18, Grouse and Flash wet #14‐16 Click for photos & info |
| May – September | Cinnamon/Tan Caddis (Hydropsyche) | Spent Partidge Caddis dry # 16‐20, Tan Elk Hair Caddis dry #16‐20, Tan Caddis Pupa #16-18 Click for photos & info |
| May – June, September | Green/Olive Caddis (Ryacophila) | Henryville Special dry #14‐16, Brown and Green diving Caddis #14‐16 Click for photos & info |
| Mid May – June to March | March Brown (Maccaffertium vicarium) | Brown dry #10‐12 Click for photos & info |
| Late May – June | Gray Winged Yellow Quill (Epeorus vitreus) | Grey Winged Sulfur, Little Marryatt dry #14‐16 Click for photos & info |
| Late May – June | Pale Evening Dun (Ephemerella invaria) | Sulfur dun, Parachute Sulphur # 14‐16 Click for photos & info |
| June – Early July, September | Cream Cahill (Maffertium, M. mediopunctatum and M. modestum) | Light Cahill, Cream Usual #14‐16 Click for photos & info |
| June – August | Light Cahill (Stenacron interpunctatum) | Light Cahill #14, Parachute Cahill #14 Click for photos & info |
| June – July | Sulphur (Ephemerella dorothea) | Sulphur Comparadun, Sulphur Parachute #16‐18 Click for photos & info |
| June – August | Little Blue Quills (Paraleptophlebia mollis) | Blue Quill #18/20 Click for photos & info |
| June – September | Slate Drake (Isonychia) | Adams, Dark Hendickson, #12‐14 Click for photos & info |
| June – July | Golden Stoneflies (Perlidae) | Stimulators, Bugmeisters, PMX #6‐10 Click for photos & info |
| June – September | Terrestrials | Hoppers, ants, beetles, caterpillars, inchworms fished dry or wet #6‐18 |
| July – September | Little Tan Dun (Serratella serratoides) | #20‐22 Click for photos & info |
| Late August – September | Flying Ants (Hymenoptera) | Cinnamon #16‐18, Black #18‐20 Click for photos & info |
| September – October | October Caddis (pycnopsyche) | Goddard Caddis #14‐16, PMX #14‐16 Click for photos & info |
DRWTU Chapter #349 