Skues Olive Dun Fly

About the Skues Olive Dun Trout Fly

The Skues Olive Dun is a classic winged dry fly and a highly useful imitation of the olive duns that form such an important part of the trout’s diet through much of the season. Olives can appear in a wide range of sizes and shades, from pale yellow-olive through to darker olive and brown-olive tones, so this traditional pattern is well worth carrying in several sizes.

Designed to sit neatly on the surface, the Skues Olive Dun is ideal when trout are taking newly hatched upwinged flies on rivers, streams and stillwaters. It is particularly useful during steady olive hatches, when fish become selective and a well-presented dry fly with the correct size, shade and silhouette can make all the difference.

This is a dependable dry fly for matching general olive duns, including the many olive-coloured upwing species encountered by UK trout anglers. Blue-winged olives, for example, are widespread on many UK rivers and can bring trout and grayling into focused surface feeding when they hatch.

Fishing Tips:

Olive duns vary considerably in tone, hue and size throughout the season, so it is sensible to carry a small selection of Skues Olive Duns in different shades and hook sizes. The Fish4Flies product page also notes the Olive Dun’s value as a standard dry fly because olives are a staple trout food through the season.

Fish it on a floating line with a fine tippet and concentrate on a drag-free drift. On rivers, cast slightly upstream of rising fish and allow the fly to travel naturally down the feeding lane. On stillwaters, use it during surface activity and let it sit naturally among emerging duns, with only the lightest movement if fish are cruising.

• Imitates: Olive dun, general upwing dun, hatching olive
• Best season: Spring through autumn, depending on local olive hatches
• Fishing style: Surface presentation during olive hatches

Historical Note

G. E. M. Skues is best remembered as one of the most influential figures in the development of nymph fishing, but his name is also closely associated with refined imitative trout flies and careful observation of hatching insects. The Skues Olive Dun fits that tradition: a practical, natural-looking dry fly for matching one of the trout’s most reliable food sources.

Creator of this trout fly: G E M Skues

Tier of this trout fly: Mandy Shelvey

Country of origin for this trout fly: England

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

Pattern Dressings

• Original suggested tying.
• Hook : 14-16.
• Thread : Primrose or yellow, treat with clear wax.
• Body : Primrose tying silk.
• Tail : Olive cock.
• Rib : Fine gold wire.
• Wing : Starling.
• Hackle : Olive cock.

When choosing the hackle and matching tail fibres Skues suggests greenish, yellowish and olive. Using different shades helps to match the hatch or at least gives the trout a choice.