Hecuba (Timpanoga alternatus)
One of the later season mayflies, the Hecuba stands out thanks to its size and fall timing. Be sure to have these flies in size #10-#12 in your boxes in August and September. They typically emerge in later mornings through mid-afternoons.
Hecuba nymphs live in gravel-bottomed rivers with steady flows, making the blue-ribbon trout waters around Bozeman idea habitats.
Our Bozeman fly fishing guides welcome the arrival of this hatch on our Yellowstone River guide trips as the trout become wary of big hopper imitations. The upper Paradise Valley stretches of the rivers see the most consistent Hecuba hatches near Bozeman, promising rising trout on calm, sunny days in early fall.
The lower Clark Fork and Bitterroot rivers near Missoula have the most prolific Hecuba mayfly hatches. Typically, the adults begin to emerge during the late morning shortly after the trico spinner fall.
Because they hatch when other hatches are sparse, trout are quick to key into both the nymphs and adults. Trout will often move several feet to take a natural or well-presented imitation once the adults are on the water.
3 Top Montana Fly Fishing Rivers for Hecuba Hatches
Top 5 Hecuba Flies For Fly Fishing in Montana
