Southern Appalachian Anglers, Asheville’s fly fishing guide service, is dedicated to providing helpful fishing information that can benefit other anglers and families who venture into Asheville’s Southern Appalachian mountains on their own.  Below is a hatch chart specific to the streams, creeks, and rivers in Asheville and the mountains in the region. Feel free to look at our chart any time before you head out on your guided fly fishing trip or before you head out on your own fly fishing adventure!

Asheville fly fishing hatch chart

January Through February

Insect Type Emerges When? Match The Hatch!
Blue Winged Olives Baetis Mid-day – Mid-Afternoon #18 Blue Winged Olive
Paraleptophlebia Adoptiva Blue Quill Late February- Afternoons #18 Blue Quill; #18 Adams
Early Black Stone Fly February – Warm Afternoons #18, #19 Black/Brown Stone Fly Nymph

March

Insect Type Emerges When? Match The Hatch!
Paraleptophlebia Adoptiva Blue Quill Mid to late March #18 Blue Quill; #18 Adams
Little Black Stone Fly All Day #18 Black Stone fly nymph
Early Black Stone Fly February – Warm Afternoons #18, #19 Black/Brown Stone Fly Nymph

April

Insect Type Emerges When? Match The Hatch!
Paraleptophlebia Adoptiva Blue Quill Mornings through mid afternoon #18 Blue Quill; #18 Adams
Black Caddis; Dark Dun Mornings, April #14-16 Dark Elk Hair Caddis; 14-16 Black Soft Hackle
Mottled Brown/Gray Caddis Middle April – All Day #16-18 Brown or Gray Soft Hackle; Brown Elk Hair Caddis
Ephemerella Subvaria Hendrickson All Day Hendricson, Red Quill, Female Adams – has yellow egg sac

May

Insect Type Emerges When? Match The Hatch!
Brown and Gray Caddis May – All Day #16 Brown/Gray Hackle; #16 Elk Hair Caddis
Black Caddis Early May #18 Soft Hackle Elk Hair Caddis; #16 Soft Hackle
Ephemerella Invaria – Sulphur All Month Sulphur Dun
Light Cahills Late Afternoon – Evening #16 and #18 Light Cahill
Ephemerella Subvaria Hendrickson All Day Hendricson, Red Quill, Female Adams – has yellow egg sac
Ephemera Guttulata – Green Drake Late May #8-10 White Wulff; Paradrake

June

Insect Type Emerges When? Match The Hatch!
Brown and Gray Caddis June – All Day #16 Brown/Gray Hackle; #16 Elk Hair Caddis
Terrestrials All Summer #Beetles, Ants, Inch Worms, Crickets, Grasshoppers
Ephemerella Invaria – Sulphur All Month #16-18 Sulphurs
Light Cahills Late Afternoon – Evening #16 and #18 Light Cahill
Yellow Stone Fly June All Day #16 Yellow Stone Fly
Isonychia Bicolor All Day Adams

July

Insect Type Emerges When? Match The Hatch!
Terrestrials All Summer #Beetles, Ants, Inch Worms, Crickets, Grasshoppers
Ephemerella Invaria – Sulphur All Month #16-18 Sulphurs
Light Cahills Late Afternoon – Evening #16 and #18 Light Cahill
Yellow Stone Fly July All Day #16 Yellow Stone Fly
Isonychia Bicolor All Day Adams

August

Insect Type Emerges When? Match The Hatch!
Terrestrials All Summer #Beetles, Ants, Inch Worms, Crickets, Grasshoppers
Ephemerella Invaria – Sulphur All Month #16-18 Sulphurs
Light Cahills Late Afternoon – Evening #16 and #18 Light Cahill
Yellow Stone Fly July All Day #16 Yellow Stone Fly
Isonychia Bicolor All Day Adams

October/November

Insect Type Emerges When? Match The Hatch!
Diptera Midge All Month Midges
Tiny Olive All October – Early November #18-20 Olives
Isonychia Bicolor All Day Adams
Caddis All Month – Evenings Brown and Orange Caddis Fly
Sulphur Dun October – Early November Sulphurs