Rusty Spinner
Rusty Spinner is a classic spent-wing mayfly pattern for trout keyed on evening falls in slicks, glides, and tailouts. It supports rusty spinner, spent mayfly fly, and evening trout dry fly searches.
Imitates: Spent mayfly spinners after mating falls
Quick Reference
- Best Sizes
- #14-20
- Best Season
- Summer through early fall
- Best Conditions
- Evening spinner falls, smooth glides, and selective trout rising gently
- Water Temp
- 54-68°F
- Recommended Tippet
- 5X-6X
How to Rig It
Fish alone on a fine leader during evening surface activity.
How to Present It
Drift it low and flat over feeding lanes without any wake or drag.
Why It Works
The spent-wing posture is exactly what trout expect when dead mayflies collect on the surface.
History
Rusty spinner patterns became standards because many mayfly species fade to rusty tones after mating and death.
Pro Tip
When trout ignore duns late in the hatch, switch immediately to a spinner pattern like this one.
Frequently Asked Questions
When should I fish a Rusty Spinner?+
Fish it in the evening whenever trout are feeding on spent mayflies lying flat on the water.
Not sure if Rusty Spinner is right today?
Get a fly recommendation based on live water temp, flow, sky, and time of day for any river in the US.
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