The faint wafting smells of wattle on the warm early spring breezes usually heralds the beginning of the first few hatches of early season mayflies. These are usually the small stumpy little beatids. They are often dull in coloration, ranging through from grey, olive, and brown.
If the conditions are right they can hatch in quite prolific numbers and cause the trout to become very one eyed in taste. The surface of many pools will be alive with action as the trout pluck the hapless little duns before they have the chance to escape.
If the hatch has been a big one often the back eddies and quiet slicks off the side of the main current will be littered with the dead, dying and crippled insects providing the trout with some easy pickings.
Although overcast and calm days will provide the best conditions to trigger a hatch, and the most comfortable conditions for the angler, I have seen hatches of these insects in near blizzard conditions with trout slashing and snatching flies from within the white caps.
The natural insect is quite small, however this pattern can be tied up to size 12 and still be quite effective, especially when using it on broken riffled water. My favourite size for the pattern is 14-16; it’s much more befitting the delicate nature of the small mayfly.
Fishing the little dun is all about the presentation; always be very delicate. I have a preference for the lighter outfits of 3-4 weight, but given that you may encounter higher water in spring time, larger outfits from 5-6 weights are fine. A fine tippet will aid you in giving the right presentation no matter what size of outfit you choose.
Seeing the fish take the fly is not always easy especially if you are fishing ‘far off and fine’, and if it is an overcast day there may be a silvery reflection on the water making sighting difficult, a slight ripple will do the same. So you have several options to assist in this regard. If you can see your leader watch it for any unusual movement, if you cannot see your leader the end of your fly line will suffice, and lastly if you know roughly where your fly is and you do see a rise or disturbed water in close proximity, strike anyway.
Facts
Materials
| HOOK: | Daiichi 1120 #16-14 |
|---|---|
| THREAD: | Black 8/- |
| BODY: | Steel blue poly dub |
| HACKLE: | Grizzle hackle |
| WING: | Opaque plastic |
| TAIL: | Grey micro fibbets |
Place the hook in the vice and attach the thread, wind to the bend of the hook and tie in 4 grey micro fibbets. Then apply a small amount of dubbing to the thread
Dub a small fine body as shown.
Using wing cutters pre prepare your wings then tie in as shown with the pinch and loop method. Tie in the grizzle hackle feather.
Wind on the hackle 3-4 turns then tie off, whip finish, and apply a drop of head cement. Clip the hackle underneath so that it sits flush in the surface film.
