Out of all the common names, Sulpher seems to be the one which get’s the highest number of aquatic insect species lumped into it. At first, it seemed that any small, creamy or yellow bodied mayfly got referred to as a Sulpher. After more experience, I’ve talked to guys who lump just about anything that isn’t a BWO, Hex, Green Drake, March Brown, or Hendrickson into the Sulpher pile. Hopefully you’ve at least tied for your early season mayfly hatches(BWOs, Hendricksons, and March Browns)by now. So let’s take a look at the vastness of the sulpher before we start thinking about tying drakes.
We’ll start with one of the oddball “sulphers.” I’m pretty sure this is actually from the epourus genus, but don’t quote me on it. (To the sulpher heap it goes!)
Next we’ll look at what I consider a “true” sulpher(spinner).
Some guys will even throw in the Light Cahill pictured below as a sulpher
Here’s the same bug(Light Cahill) from below. I actually watched this one climb out of it’s shuck while floating down the West branch of the Delaware River, and took this pic seconds after. Take note of the pink hue on the underside of the abdomen.
Now, here is the same bug about a minute after emerging. That pink hue is gone-baby-gone. Giving you a legitimate reason to tie two color variations for Light Cahill Duns.
Back to those “true” sulphers. Just for comparison, here is a sulpher dun from the Catskills pictured from the side, and from below.
And here is it’s cousin from the Au Sable in northern MI.
And to really throw some confusion to the mix, some people will throw this stonefly species in as a sulpher(WTF? Really, WTF?)
If you think you’ve got your bases covered by tying each of the color variations pictured above, you don’t. In fact, you’re not even close. If you were me, you’d attempt to tie every color variation you’ve come across. But if I were you, I’d look for ways to minimize the confusion.
And most importantly! Do not skip out on tying some wet fly or emerger versions of the color variations you prefer. Swinging wets during a sulpher hatch can be about as productive as it gets, even on the most highly pressured rivers.
