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Mayfly Species Cinygmula ramaleyi (Small Western Gordon Quill)

Pictures Below ↓
This can be the first mayfly of the season on high mountain streams in the western states, but emerges later in the season in Alaska. It is the most important species of Cinygmula for anglers.  

Where & When


Region: West

Time Of Year (?): May through August; best in June or July

Cinygmula ramaleyi is widely distributed in the West.

This species appears to be common in interior Alaska, where it emerges during the latter half of the summer. Fishable hatches and selective grayling are possible on a couple of cold, productive spring creeks in the area.

Hatching Behavior


Time Of Day (?): Late morning

Water Temperature: Mid 40°F range and up
Emergence in interior Alaska differs from that described for other locales; I have observed them emerging on a spring creek beginning in July and extending through September. It seems to pick up as the larger Drunella doddsii hatch tapers off, both in terms of season and time of day. Although they are reported as a late morning hatch in angling literature, I have most often observed them in the afternoon or early evening in Alaska. The duns emerge in classic sailboat fashion and take some time to get off the water.

Spinner Behavior


Time Of Day: Midday

Habitat: Riffles

Nymph Biology


Current Speed: Medium to fast

Substrate: Gravel or rocks

In Mayflies, the Angler, and the Trout, Fred Arbona reports that his stomach samples showed trout feeding heavily on these nymphs during non-hatch periods.


Pictures of 9 Mayfly Specimens in the Species Cinygmula ramaleyi:

Specimen Page:12
Cinygmula ramaleyi (Small Western Gordon Quill) Mayfly NymphCinygmula ramaleyi (Small Western Gordon Quill) Mayfly Nymph View 9 PicturesThis nymph is almost definitely the same species as this dun, which hatched from a nearly identical nymph from the same collection.
Collected July 10, 2011 from Nome Creek in Alaska
Added to Troutnut.com by Troutnut on July 13, 2011
Female Cinygmula ramaleyi (Small Western Gordon Quill) Mayfly DunFemale Cinygmula ramaleyi (Small Western Gordon Quill) Mayfly Dun View 7 PicturesThis dun is almost certainly of the same species as this nymph, as it hatched in my cooler from a nearly identical nymph.
Collected July 10, 2011 from Nome Creek in Alaska
Added to Troutnut.com by Troutnut on July 13, 2011
Male Cinygmula ramaleyi (Small Western Gordon Quill) Mayfly SpinnerMale Cinygmula ramaleyi (Small Western Gordon Quill) Mayfly Spinner View 4 PicturesThis one was preserved in ethanol and partially dissected, so it doesn't have its natural wild coloration, and it's missing some appendages. I'm posting it for identification purposes.
Collected September 4, 2015 from Mystery Creek #186 in Alaska
Added to Troutnut.com by Troutnut on October 27, 2015
Specimen Page:12

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