The hatch chart · Terrestrial
Hawthorn fly
Bibio marci
- Natural’s size
- Hook 12
- Time of day
- Breezy afternoons near hedges
- At its peak
- May
- Fly to try
- Hawthorn Fly, size 12
The year
- JJanuary: not expected
- FFebruary: not expected
- MMarch: not expected
- AApril: some about
- MMay: main hatch
- JJune: not expected
- JJuly: not expected
- AAugust: not expected
- SSeptember: not expected
- OOctober: not expected
- NNovember: not expected
- DDecember: not expected
In the hand
A jet-black, hairy land fly about 12 mm long that flies slowly with its long hind legs trailing beneath it like an undercarriage. Clear wings with a dark front edge. Unmistakable once you have seen the dangling legs.
On the river
Named for appearing around St Mark’s Day, 25 April. Swarms hang in the lee of hedges and are blown onto the water, where they lie low in the film and are taken with a firm, unhurried rise.