The Brown Drake hatch is an absolutely terrific
mayfly hatch for fly fisherman when you catch it right. Brown drakes are the
first of the large burrowing nymphs to hatch in June and
trout love these large morsels! The hatches can be very dense, but unfortunately
do not last for many days.
The scientific name for the Brown Drake mayflies is Ephemera
simulans.
These large mayfly nymphs burrow in the sand and silt bottoms in the
slower stretches of the trout streams. In June, at around dusk the nymphs emerge
from their burrows and begin to wiggle towards the surface. Once at the surface
they emerge slowly and ride the water for some time before being able to fly
away to the trees and shrubs nearby. During this time they are extremely vunerable
to feeding trout. As they struggle and flounder on the surface trying to escape their nymphal shuck their wings look like a mess and offer trout an easy meal.
Sizes range from #10 to #8 and my favorite pattern is an extended body comparadun.
It is advisable to carry nymphs, emergers, duns and spinner patterns. Click here for how to tie my brown drake nymph & Emerger patterns.
Since this hatch generally occurs near dusk, it is often combined with the
brown drake spinners coming back on the water to lay their eggs and die. Close
observation can help you determine whether trout are sipping in the spinners
rather than the brown drake emergers or duns. Be aware on cloudy days the hatch
may occur in late afternoon
or early evening.
Note: Since the Brown Drake hatch generally occurs at dusk size, silhouette and presentation are far more important than matching the exact color of this mayfly.
See photos below:
Video of Brown Drake spinnerfall on a Northern Wisconson trout stream
The Brown Drake hatch is an absolutely terrific
mayfly hatch for fly fisherman when you catch it right. Brown drakes are the
first of the large burrowing nymphs to hatch in June and
trout love these large morsels! The hatches can be very dense, but unfortunately
do not last for many days. 
