Speckled spinner or Stillwater mayfly (Callibaetis ferrugineus)
Callibaetis are common in Montana lakes, ponds, and very slow-moving rivers and emerge from May through August in the late morning or early afternoon. Early in the year, you can cast flies as big as size #12, but later in the year, they decrease in size, so try a size #16 or smaller.
These mayflies are differentiated by their mottled wings and rather thin bodies. Nymphs live in the weeds in the bottom of lakes and will swim up to the surface and back down again until the conditions are right at the surface to hatch. Trout target the nymphs throughout the water column.
Trout behave during this hatch rather oddly, by gulping. When you see them starting to move in a straight line and gulping bugs off the surface at regular intervals, this is gulping. Cast your fly just ahead of where you think a trout’s next gulp will occur and you’ll be right on target. Trout often key in on spent mayflies because they are easy targets.
Ennis and Hebgen lakes are famous for midsummer “gulper fishing.” The Trico spinner fall is closely followed by the mid-morning Callibaetis emergence on calm days. Anglers fishing on Fins & Feathers guided trips target these slow-cruising trout from expertly maneuvered drift boats along prime feeding lines. For skilled anglers, this can be some incredibly rewarding dry fly fishing in Montana.
Stillwater anglers fishing in Montana look forward to the iconic gulper season on Ennis Lake when trout cruise the shallows for spent Callibaetis spinners.
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