Ameletus

NYMPH SIZE: 10-14 mm (3/8-7/16 in)

NYMPH COLOR: Brown, with hints of purple or red

DUN SIZE: 10-14 mm (3/8-7/16 in)

DUN COLOR: Wings: mottled. Body: browns, olives

OTHER CHARACTERISTICS: Nymphs: three fringed hairs; slender shape. Dun: two tails

Mouse-over for alternate views: Nymph 1    Nymph 2    Spinner

About Ameletus

Ameletus nymphs are swimmer-type mayflies that are most often found in the fast, cold headwaters sections of mountain streams, but they tend to live in the quieter margins of these streams. When they are mature, the nymphs crawl out of the water and the adult emerges.

Nymph imitations can be useful when drifted along the edges of streams where they occur. Impart a little action with the rod tip to mimic the swimming behaviour of the nymphs. Undercut banks are especially good places to swim your fly.

Nymph imitations can also be productive when drifted or retrieved with short strips through the shallows after the naturals have migrated there. However, take particular care when fishing here because the quiet, shallow water makes trout spooky.

Because the duns emerge on land, they are not available to trout during a hatch. But a little wind can blow them onto the water, and since most of the action is on small streams the duns end up not far from trout; spinner imitations are seldom useful to anglers.

Overall, this is not a major western hatch. And on streams where it rates some attention, the nymphs are much more important than the duns and spinners.

STAGE

PATTERN

SIZE/
COLOR

PRESENTATION

WHERE

Nymph

A. P. Nymph, Pheasant Tail

10-14/Brown

Indicator, Tight line, Surface swing, Count-down-and-retrieve

Riffles, runs, bankwater

Dun

Comparadun, Parachute Hares Ear

10-14/Brown, Olive

Standard dry fly

Bankwater, backeddies