Beadhead Hare's Ear

Lesser green drakes are most famous in Colorado and Utah, but are widespread in all of the western states and provinces. They live only in moving water, usually in freestone streams, but are most abundant in relatively tame flows, such as the Frying Pan tailwater, Slough Creek meadows, and Logan River benches. Their heaviest hatches are in July in the Pacific states, September in the Rockies. Hatches begin in early to mid-afternoon, and go on for between one and three hours each day. They are the same color as the larger green drakes, and just one size smaller: hooks 12 and 14 as opposed to 10 and 12. Lesser green drake hatches are often mistaken for their larger cousins. It makes no difference; the same dressings will fish for both groups. They have trouble getting off the water. It's important to carry emerger patterns.