Description
When trout feed on Spent Spinners, they do it with comfort. These dead or dying mayflies will not fly away, making them an easy, high-protein meal. The rise is typically slow and methodical, often in a classic "head-and-tail" style. Many anglers find this stage difficult, as fish become extremely selective when hundreds of spent spinners blanket the surface.
Our Commitment: Perfect Imitation To succeed and perhaps hook the fish of a lifetime, you must observe where the fish feeds and ensure your presentation is flawless. But just as important is the imitation itself. Because the insect is stationary, the fish has plenty of time to scrutinize your fly.
Our commitment is to provide imitations of the real insect where the fly has the right shape, size, proportions, and colours, and, not least, leaves the correct print on the surface of the water. This imitation of an adult mayfly in the Spent stage possesses all the right properties. It looks natural, feels natural, and fish will eat it.
The Late Season Specialist – J:son Mayfly Spent 3 Mahogany (Hook #18) In size #18, the Mahogany Spent is a deadly imitation for the smaller species of dark-colored mayflies. It is particularly effective during late summer and autumn when smaller Leptophlebia species or other dark-bodied mayflies complete their life cycle. After the spinner fall, these insects lie flat in the surface film, their bodies taking on a deep, rich mahogany tone that creates a sharp, attractive silhouette against the sky.
Tied on a size #18 hook, this fly is a masterpiece of micro-realism. J:son’s unique foam construction ensures that even in this small size, the fly maintains perfect buoyancy and sits flush in the water. The flat-wing design mimics the helpless, spent posture that triggers confident rises from large, cautious trout. When the fish are keyed in on small, dark spinners in calm water, the Mahogany #18 provides the perfect blend of subtle presentation and anatomical accuracy.
Correct Surface Print: The imitation creates the precise flat-winged silhouette on the water film that triggers even the most selective fish.
Optimal Realism: Designed to mimic the spent, exhausted mayfly lying flush in the surface film after egg-laying.
High Quality: Exact proportions and biological colours that perfectly match the natural insect’s final life stage.
Pro Tip: Use a Swivel for Perfect Presentation Because J:son realistic flies are designed with anatomically correct wings, they act like small propellers in the air during casting. This can cause your leader to twist, leading to tangles and poor presentation.
To prevent this and ensure your fly lands perfectly every time, we strongly recommend using a J:son Anti-Twist Swivel. This simple addition will eliminate line twist and let you focus entirely on the fish.