Western Green Drake (Drunella grandis)
The western green drake is a beast of a mayfly known for their size and dark, green coloration. They are easy to identify with their dark wings that appear black when in flight and are large and upright.
While many other mayflies attract the most trout eats under the surface, western green drakes are a large enough meal to draw trout to the surface to hammer the adults. They emerge as adults in June on many of the world-renown wild trout rivers near Bozeman.
Until the adults emerge, trout key in on the struggling nymph to emerger stage, so a cripple fly imitating this species is as important to have in your box as the adults.
Often overlooked by anglers, this fly can often produce results when salmonflies or golden stones are also hatching and prolific, but trout are not keying in on them. Our Montana fishing guides watch for green drake hatches when fishing the big stoneflies on the Yellowstone River as trout often prefer the mayflies when feeding in slow water. Insect activity is heavy this time of year and a guided trip is a great way for intermediate skilled anglers to "make the connection" between hatch activity and trout behavior.
3 Top Montana Fly Fishing Rivers for Green Drake Hatches
Top 5 Green Drake Flies For Fly Fishing in Montana
