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3. Paraleptophlebia mollis spinner

Perhaps Lee can help with this one. I seem to recall he had something to say about blue quills a few years back. Around noon on a small Central Pennsylvania spring creek I found clouds of what I'm relatively sure were blue quill spinners. It would have been heaven to have been there when they fell--if they fell on the water. Does anyone know about these spinners? The time of day they tend to drop, for example, and how to fish them?

Hi Louis-

I would expect the spinner fall to occur in the evening as darkness approaches. Incidentally, Paraleptophlebia mollis was re-classfied as Neoleptophlebia mollis some years ago.

Thanks, Roger!!

Louis,

Did you notice any females with egg sacks? I ask that because at times I have noticed on occasion swarming male spinners and no females. My guess is they are just excited and practicing for the big event.

Also, as i am sure you already know, dark cloudy weather can trigger a spinner fall.

John, I didn't get a close look at them. This spinner fall seems to be somewhat of a mystery. I've read and asked buddies about it, getting a variety of answers, but nobody seems to have figured it out for sure. I've heard that at least some of the spinners return to and fall on land. Part of the issue may be that the hatch comes in the summer, when many are either not fishing much, or primarily early, looking for cooled water or Tricos. There were just so many bugs, though, it made me want to figure out when and if they hit the water. I may head back up to the stream in the late afternoon to wait out the bugs and see if they fall in the evening. If the hatch is still going on. I may have just hit a peak day, and not find any bugs when I get back. Any experiences anyone has had, or knows about would be welcome.