Quill Gordons
Scientific Names
| Match | Scientific Name |
 | Epeorus pleuralis |
 | Rhithrogena futilis |
| Epeorus longimanus |
| Cinygmula subaequalis |
| Rhithrogena undulata |
This name primarily describes the important Eastern hatch Epeorus pleuralis. It was the first American trout stream hatch described by anglers, and it is named for the fly pattern created by 19th century fly fishing legend Theodore Gordon to imitate it.
Like most common names, "Quill Gordon" can refer to more than one taxon. They're previewed below, along with 4 specimens. For more detail click through to the scientific names.
Mayfly Species Epeorus pleuralis
These are pretty much always called Quill Gordons.
This is the first really good dry-fly opportunity of the season for most Eastern anglers. They are large mayflies and they have good points of vulnerability both underwater and on the surface.
Epeorus pleuralis (Quill Gordon) Mayfly Nymph
View 4 PicturesThis Epeorus pluralis dun is recently deceased in these photos. I decided not to photograph several lively, less mature nymphs. This one was ready to hatch, as indicated by the black wing pads (Wing pad: A protrusion from the thorax of an insect nymph which holds the developing wings. Black wing pads usually indicate that the nymph is nearly ready to emerge into an adult.). I believe it had not been dead long enough to lose its natural coloration.
View 4 PicturesThis Epeorus pluralis dun is recently deceased in these photos. I decided not to photograph several lively, less mature nymphs. This one was ready to hatch, as indicated by the black wing pads (Wing pad: A protrusion from the thorax of an insect nymph which holds the developing wings. Black wing pads usually indicate that the nymph is nearly ready to emerge into an adult.). I believe it had not been dead long enough to lose its natural coloration.
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Region: Catskills
Collected Apr 19, 2006
Added Apr 22, 2006
Male Epeorus pleuralis (Quill Gordon) Mayfly Dun
View 9 PicturesI kept this specimen after photographing it and it molted into a spinner in perfect condition, which I photographed here.
View 9 PicturesI kept this specimen after photographing it and it molted into a spinner in perfect condition, which I photographed here.Region: Northeast
Collected Apr 30, 2007
Added May 3, 2007
Male Epeorus pleuralis (Quill Gordon) Mayfly Spinner
View 10 PicturesA few days earlier I photographed this same specimen as a dun. The changes between dun and spinner seem particularly dramatic in this species.
View 10 PicturesA few days earlier I photographed this same specimen as a dun. The changes between dun and spinner seem particularly dramatic in this species.Region: Northeast
Collected Apr 30, 2007
Added May 3, 2007
See 2 more specimens...
Mayfly Species Rhithrogena futilis
These are very rarely called Quill Gordons.
This is a large but uncommon species of Rhithrogena.
Mayfly Species Epeorus longimanus
These are very rarely called Quill Gordons.
Mayfly Species Cinygmula subaequalis
These are very rarely called Quill Gordons.
This is the only Eastern species of Cinygmula. It may produce fishable hatches in places but it is not a generally important mayfly.
Cinygmula subaequalis (Small Gordon Quill) Mayfly Nymph
View 10 PicturesThis nymph is missing a few gills, but is otherwise in good shape. It was the only one of its species which turned up in my sample.
View 10 PicturesThis nymph is missing a few gills, but is otherwise in good shape. It was the only one of its species which turned up in my sample.Region: Poconos
Collected May 29, 2007
Added Jun 4, 2007
Mayfly Species Rhithrogena undulata
These are very rarely called Quill Gordons.
This is one of the two most common species of Rhithrogena.
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