Red Quill
The Red Quill is a traditional mayfly dry fly with a stripped quill body, perfect for imitating male Hendricksons and other reddish-brown mayflies. It's a go-to for searches like Red Quill mayfly pattern, Hendrickson dry fly, and Catskill-style quill body dry fly.
Imitates: Male Hendrickson (Ephemerella subvaria) and similar mayflies
Quick Reference
- Best Sizes
- #12-14
- Best Season
- Spring, peak Hendrickson hatch
- Best Conditions
- Freestone rivers, afternoon hatches, smooth pools
- Water Temp
- 50-60°F
- Recommended Tippet
- 5X
How to Rig It
Single dry during Hendrickson emergence.
How to Present It
Dead-drift; switch to spinner pattern as the hatch wanes.
Why It Works
The segmented stripped quill body perfectly mimics a real mayfly abdomen — trout key on that profile during selective hatches.
History
Art Flick popularized the Red Quill in his 'Streamside Guide' (1947), pairing it with the Hendrickson as a male/female set.
Pro Tip
Fish a Red Quill (male) and Hendrickson (female) together — trout often prefer one over the other from day to day.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the Red Quill the same as a Hendrickson?+
They imitate the same hatch — the Red Quill is the male, the Hendrickson dry the female. Carry both.
Not sure if Red Quill is right today?
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