TroutWindowEphemeroptera · Ephemerellidae (PMD-class / sulphur complex)
Sulphurs
Pale yellow evening mayflies that define late-spring SE evenings. Size and shade matter more than the shop name on the box.
Taxa: Ephemerella / related pale yellow mayflies (angler “sulphur” / PMD-class)
Sulphurs coming off + trout rising in the evening lane = the classic SE go signal.
Life stages
Mayfly path: egg → nymph → dun → spinner. No pupa. Nymphs are typically crawlers; duns pale yellow to sulphur orange.
When it matters in the Southern Apps (NC–VA)
May evenings into June; watch band ~60 °F as a cue. Afternoon–evening tip on the calendar. Spring creeks (e.g. Mossy) keep sulphur cards separate from freestone Yellow Sally.
Matching artificials & techniques
Mimic the stage the fish are eating — size and silhouette first. Patterns are common SE shop language, not a brand list.
Pheasant Tail, Hare’s Ear, Sulphur nymph (#14–18)
Build depth early; move shallower as rises start.
Sulphur Comparadun, Sparkle Dun, Light Cahill (close), CDC emerger
Evening slack-line drifts; match pale yellow body.
Sulphur Spinner, Rusty Spinner (pale)
Spent patterns in evening slicks.
Sources: Ephemerellidae / angler sulphur complex; SE calendar. Stage photos: Coming soon (prior stand-ins removed for accuracy). Regional note: Taxonomy and stage language follow standard aquatic entomology (Ephemeroptera / Trichoptera / Plecoptera / Chironomidae). SE timing is a regional prior from the hatch calendar — confirm with thermometer, seine, and local shop/agency charts.
SE hatch calendar All bugs Life-cycle basics
More in the guide: BWO · Midges · Caddis · October Caddis · Tricos · Quill Gordon