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Glossary
hatch

Hendrickson

A mid-spring mayfly hatch — pinkish-brown body, dark gray wings — that signals the start of dry-fly season on Eastern and Midwestern rivers.

Also calledHendricksons · Hennies

Hendricksons are the East's first major mayfly hatch of the year. They emerge in mid-to-late April through early May, bringing rising trout to the surface for the first time after winter. Sizes 12–14 — bigger than most spring mayflies, which makes them satisfying targets.

The classic pattern is a Hendrickson Comparadun or a Catskill-style dry. The hatch is often heavy enough that fish key on duns specifically; a good drift in the seam below a riffle will produce.