May is one of the most exciting – and most changeable – months on the river. Large food items start to appear, fish become far more willing to look up, and feeding spells can be short, intense, and highly selective. This May River Hatch Pack is designed to cover those moments properly.
As with all our hatch packs, the flies are tied on premium hooks, chosen for strength, sharpness and clean proportions, and supplied in a clip-lid compartment fly box that’s ready to fish straight from your pocket.
The balance leans toward surface and near-surface feeding, with carefully chosen subsurface patterns to keep you in the game when trout drop back down.
What’s inside and why it’s there
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Tungsten Soft Hackle – Shrimp Pink
A superb searching pattern for May flows. The tungsten bead gets it down quickly, while the soft hackle gives plenty of life when fished with short lifts through the run.
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Skinny Black Gnat Barbless
A deadly little dry when trout are sipping small dark flies. Ideal on flatter glides and steady pools when fish are feeding confidently but subtly.
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Hawthorn Dry
Still very much in play through May. When terrestrials are getting blown onto the water, this can be a real banker, especially later in the day.
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Iron Blue Dun (Size 14)
A must-have for overcast days and cooler spells. When fish refuse larger flies, the Iron Blue often unlocks difficult feeding trout.
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Hair Wing Mayfly Barbless (Size 12)
A practical, fishable mayfly pattern that floats well and is easy to see. Perfect for early mayfly activity or when fish want a clear silhouette rather than a delicate imitation.
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Richard Walker Mayfly Nymph Barbless
An excellent choice before and during mayfly hatches. Fish it upstream or even across and down when trout are intercepting nymphs prior to committing to the surface.
Who this pack is for
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River anglers fishing May and early June
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Those wanting confidence flies for mayfly, olives, terrestrials and nymphs
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Anglers who prefer a considered seasonal selection over guesswork
A calm, well-rounded May selection that reflects how rivers actually fish – short feeding windows, selective trout, and the need to switch tactics quickly and confidently.
