White Fly

Ephoron leukon and E. album

Also called Ephoron, White Mayfly, White Miller (mayfly, misnomer).

The last big mayfly of the season: a burrowing mayfly that erupts at dusk from about August 14 through September on the Au Sable, Huron, White and Rifle rivers, with huge numbers emerging after dark. The event is compressed into about two hours; males molt to spinners in flight while females stay as duns, so a single cream-bodied, gray-winged pattern (White Wulff, White Parachute, White Comparadun #12-14) covers it. Bright white flies are inaccurate; the naturals are cream with light gray wings. Get in position before dark and expect a short, frantic rise.

#10–16duskeveningnightemergerdunspinnercreamy white bodylight gray wing (not pure white)pale burrowing nymph

White Fly (Ephoron leukon) — © Wendy McCrady · CC BY · iNaturalist · Brazoria, TX 77422 · 2020

© Sam Kieschnick · CC BY · iNaturalist · Brazoria County, TX · 2020
Matthew Barbour · CC0 · iNaturalist · Sherbrooke, QC · 2026
© Doug Macaulay · CC BY · iNaturalist · Dillberry Lake Provincial Park · 2020
© Doug Macaulay · CC BY · iNaturalist · Dillberry Lake Provincial Park · 2021
Peter Gabler · CC0 · iNaturalist · Sachsen, DE · 2022

Timing by region

Southeast Lower Peninsula
1. J
2. F
3. M
4. A
5. M
6. J
7. J
8. A
9. S
10. O
11. N
12. D
Window
Jul 31 – Sep 16
Peak
—
Southwest Lower Peninsula
1. J
2. F
3. M
4. A
5. M
6. J
7. J
8. A
9. S
10. O
11. N
12. D
Window
Aug 4 – Sep 20
Peak
—
Northeast Lower Peninsula
1. J
2. F
3. M
4. A
5. M
6. J
7. J
8. A
9. S
10. O
11. N
12. D
Window
Aug 14 – Sep 30
Peak
—
Northwest Lower Peninsula
1. J
2. F
3. M
4. A
5. M
6. J
7. J
8. A
9. S
10. O
11. N
12. D
Window
Aug 14 – Sep 30
Peak
—
Upper Peninsula
1. J
2. F
3. M
4. A
5. M
6. J
7. J
8. A
9. S
10. O
11. N
12. D
Window
Sep 4 – Oct 21
Peak
—
Au Sable River (Holy Waters and Main Stream to McMasters)local chart
1. J
2. F
3. M
4. A
5. M
6. J
7. J
8. A
9. S
10. O
11. N
12. D
Window
Aug 14 – Sep 30
Peak
—
Huron River (Proud Lake, Ann Arbor, Flat Rock)local chart
1. J
2. F
3. M
4. A
5. M
6. J
7. J
8. A
9. S
10. O
11. N
12. D
Window
Jul 1 – Sep 30
Peak
—

Region	Months	Window	Peak
Southeast Lower Peninsula	J F M A M J J A S O N D	Jul 31 – Sep 16	—
Southwest Lower Peninsula	J F M A M J J A S O N D	Aug 4 – Sep 20	—
Northeast Lower Peninsula	J F M A M J J A S O N D	Aug 14 – Sep 30	—
Northwest Lower Peninsula	J F M A M J J A S O N D	Aug 14 – Sep 30	—
Upper Peninsula	J F M A M J J A S O N D	Sep 4 – Oct 21	—
Au Sable River (Holy Waters and Main Stream to McMasters)local chart	J F M A M J J A S O N D	Aug 14 – Sep 30	—
Huron River (Proud Lake, Ann Arbor, Flat Rock)local chart	J F M A M J J A S O N D	Jul 1 – Sep 30	—

Flies that match

Bench photo coming

White Fly Parachute

Dry fly#10–16Cream body, light gray wingWhite

Ephoron hatches at dusk for about two hours from around August 14 through September once water reaches 65 to 70 F, on the Au Sable, White, Huron and Escanaba. FlyFishFinder lists the White Parachute, White Wulff and White Comparadun in #14 to #16; the naturals are cream with gray wings, so avoid pure white. Females never molt, so one pattern covers dun and spinner.

Dry fly

Reserve · $3.00

Reference photo

White Wulff

Dry fly#10–16White with calf-tail wing

A high-floating, easily seen White Fly dun for the last light and first dark of the mid August to September hatch. Fish it in riffle tails on the Au Sable from Mio downstream and on the White River when the swarms come off around sunset.

Dry fly

Reserve · $3.00