The darker companion to the Light Hendrickson: dark muskrat-gray body, wood duck wings, dun tail and hackle. Many Catskill anglers fish it for the darker male duns of Ephemerella subvaria while the Light Hendrickson covers the pinkish females — carry both through the late-April hatch.
1. Thread base — Attach gray thread behind the eye and build a base to the bend.
2. Tail — Tie in a sparse bunch of dun hackle fibers at the bend, one hook-gap in length.
3. Wings — At the 2/3 point, tie in two matched wood duck flank sections upright and divided with figure-eight wraps.
4. Body — Dub a smooth, tapered dark muskrat-gray body from the bend to just behind the wings.
5. Hackle — Tie in a dun hackle behind the wings. Wind 3–4 turns through the thorax area. Tie off and trim.
6. Head — Build a small, neat head. Whip finish and apply head cement.
tail
wing
body
hackle
Ephemerella subvaria
