This photo was taken Friday on the Trophy Stretch of the Connecticut River by longtime guest and excellent “fly phisher” Mary Ward.

There has been great hatching activity on the Trophy lately – BWO’s, Cahills and Sulphurs, along with small yellow stones and some caddis too.

As to which variety this specimen is, I’m not totally sure. Consulting Thomas Ames’s handy tome “Hatch Guide For New England Streams” (it has a prominent place in my “office” at home), it looks to be a light cahill. While the abdomen bears the marking of a light cahill, the wings and head color are a perfect match for a sulphur.  Your thoughts and comments are welcome!

The mayfly hatches get going about mid-morning and are usually winding down by late afternoon/early evening. We witnessed a spectacular cahill hatch yesterday from 3 – 5 PM.

In addition to the normal nymphs and streamers in your fly boxes, it’s time to take a good selection of dries to the river when you go …