About the Pale Morning Dun Trout Fly

The Pale Morning Duns are prevalent on most western US rivers from July into September. I normally fish the Henry's Fork in early August, and at that time one can count on a PMD spinner fall beginning midmorning on most days, followed by or concurrent with an emergence of duns lasting well into the afternoon. Of the designs shown, the emerger and the spinner have proven to be the two most consistently effective. I've found the dun design effective only during dense hatches of the PMDs.

Expert Tip:

I've been fly fishing for about 45 years and tying flies for approximately 30 years. My early fly fishing education was on the insect-rich rivers of the Catskill Mountains in New York State: the Beaverkill, Willowemoc, Esopus and the branches of the Delaware. Since then, I've fished for trout in most of the "trout" states in the US, as well as in Canada and northern Europe. My favorite water is the placid meandering stretch of the Henry's Fork of the Snake River near Last Chance, Idaho, where it passes through the Harriman Ranch and where the rainbows are wild, well-fed and very selective. -Eric

Creator of this trout fly: Eric Pepper

Tier of this trout fly: Eric Pepper

Country of origin for this trout fly: USA , Idaho

This trout fly is designed to be fished on Rivers & Streams

Dressings

• Hook : Size 18 and 20*.
• Thread : Olive 6/0.
• Tail : Tied split, a single dun microfibbet on each side.
• Abdomen : Chartreuse (PMD) dubbing. McLean's Quill Body material may also be used.
• Wing : Pale dun Zelon, as a single post (shown). A pale dun turkey flat may be substituted.
• Hackle : Pale dun cock hackle, clipped even with the hook point on the bottom.
• Thorax : Same as abdomen, tied slightly fuller.

I fish primarily 18s, but occasionally a size smaller fly will bring up a reluctant fish. TMC 101