Hendrickson patterns for the Delaware??

some insight. hendrickson's do not hatch in great numbers like a sulpher or other seasonal hatches i've read and found out.. they DO hatch speraticaly throughout the early season usualy in mid april through may. i've also done well in june also. i'm more of a dry fly guy so i can tell you the basic patterns i use. using gray thread.
there are a dark hendrickson using a muskrat gray body,dark blue dun tail and hackle with a lemon color wood duck well barred split wing.
the light hendrickson i use light red fox fur body or a pinkish body to represent the female, with blue dun tail and hackle with a lighter shade of wood duck wing. i tie these on a standard size#12 hook.
i've also used a thin tan poly dubbed body up on kettle that was a killer. i never had any catches on a parachute.
the basic nymph is a reddish/amber to a creamish amber body and thorax. wood duck flank for tail and brown goose quill for the wingcase in #10-#12.
since hendricksons hatch off the water throughout the day, it's a good fly to try now and then even when nothing else is going on.
oh ya, smallmouth in creeks like'em too. ~dt

I use a quill body imatation also and sometimes an adams. It is tough to hit a hendricks hatch there. The best early season hatch up there is the red and blue quill. Also make sure you have plenty of black and brown caddis size 12-16. Also check with the local fly shops up there West Branch Angler and Delaware River Club for up todate patterns and conditions. Are you going to be fishing the Main stem, East Branch or the West Branch of the Delaware?

here are 2 dry flies that are named after the beaverkill specificaly used for the river.
 
beaverkill #10-16
thread: black
tail: brown hackle barbs
body: white floss
rib: brown hackle palmered
wing: gray mallard wing sections
hackle: brown
 
lady beaverkill #12-#14
thread: light gray
tail; barred light dun hackle barbs
egg sac: yellow fur
body: light gray muskat fur
wing: light dun hen hackle tips
hackle: bleached grizzly
 
these might be worth trying.
 
 
 

DT I'll tie some of those up and givem a try....
I tied a bunch up tonight...I'll try to take some pics and post them tomorrow and see what u guys think.
 

Yeah that Hendrickson was developed by Chauncy Lively, Its a Burnt Wing, reversed hackle that floats great and looks like the Henni's we have in Michigan, But have been fished all over with good success , the colors could be changed  

That above is a Hendrickson nymph. I am having a horrible time getting the pictures to come out not blurry!!
 
Any suggestions??

Yes. I did put that on...you think maybe my camera just can't get the detail needed???

ORIGINAL: MagicMidgeMan

Yes. I did put that on...you think maybe my camera just can't get the detail needed???

 
I'm sure it can.  Maybe you're moving/shaking a tad when the camera shoots?  Lighting?  Maybe you're too close?  too far?
 
The focus on the paper plate is crisp.  Are you sure you had the macro on?
 
I have a Sony Power Shot and it takes great macros very easily.

Yep, D is right, the plate is stealing the cameras auto-focus and lighting is most important.
 
Make sure your camera is set to the tulip.
And yes, it helps to have good external lighting on the subject because you'll be too close for flash.
Shoot in manual mode and have the exposure metering set to spot or center-weighted but not evaluative.
It helps greatly to use a tripod or something to set the camera on and use the self-timer button set for 2-seconds. 
With the timer, lighting and a steady camera, you can use the lowest ISO possible for optimum image quality.
Lastly, shoot at the widest angle ( lens fully retracted) and move the camera closer or farther to your bug until you get a nice sharp auto-focus.
good luck MMM
 
 
 

try using a solid color background

With my camera , in the macro mode I use tri-pod and when shooting pic I depress 1/3 way down, the camera auto focases then shoot, And I also use a Lgt. Bluebackground

I work in a fly shop and guide up there on the river.  I am more than willing to help ya out with whatever questions you may have. When are you planning on going out to the delaware?  Have you ever fished the delaware before? 

The hendricksons are a great hatch to fish since it is the first major hatch on the river, and the fish have not been worked over all year so it can be easier to fool some of those big browns that are so smart and selective.  As far as patterns I would stay away from the typical catskill patterns, they tend to be not as successful with the wild fish on the WestBranch.  They ride to high in the water and dont look as natural and with the wild fish you need to be as realistic as possible.  I mostly fish duns and spinners during the hendricksons.  Depending on the time your going you may want to tie some march browns.  They dont come off in huge numbers but when they are on the water fish tend to take them.

When you are fishing on any of the branches of the delaware East West or Main you always need to position yourself up river of the fish.  I always try to be withing a comfortable casting distance to the fish and around a 45 degree angle.  You will increase your chances of catching fish casting down river to them.  Dont cast up river, reposition yourself if you have to.
 
 The two most important things you can remember, make sure the fish see the fly first and second try not to throw over them and line them.  If they see the line/tippet before your fly they wont take it and if you throw over them and line them while they are feeding there is a good chance that you will put them down and they will stop feeding.  Those are two common mistakes we all make. 
 
Havent really fished the BK Willow or Esopus much.  Mostly just the three branches of the delaware since our shop is iright in Hancock near the junction of East West and Start of the Main.  Plus I love to chase those big wild browns on a very challenging river.  Hey we have all been skunked on the Delaware and anyone who says they havent isnt telling the truth.