Dry FliesHair Wing Dun
The Hair Wing Dun is a classic mayfly imitation that combines the durability of deer hair with the delicate profile of a natural mayfly dun. This pattern features a sparse dun spade hackle tail, a slim dubbed body, and a distinctive deer hair wing that provides excellent visibility and floatation. The combination of materials creates a fly that sits naturally on the water's surface while remaining highly visible to the angler.
Spring, Summer, Fall
Intermediate
Trout
Overview
This Charlie Craven pattern from Charlie's Fly Box demonstrates a traditional approach to mayfly dun imitations. The Hair Wing Dun bridges the gap between comparadun-style patterns and traditional hackled dries, incorporating elements of both. The dun-colored spade hackle tail provides proper support and a realistic mayfly profile, while the deer hair wing creates an unmistakable silhouette that fish recognize as food. The sparse hackle allows the fly to sit properly in the surface film.
Pattern Characteristics
Materials
Hook: Tiemco 100SP-BL, #14-18
Thread: Semperfli Nano Silk 30 Denier, gray
Tail: Spade Hackle, dun
Body: Superfine Dubbing, blue winged olive
Hackle: Rooster Cape (or Saddle), dun
Wing: Deer Hair (Comparadun or Humpy style)
Fishing Tips
Season
Most effective during spring through fall mayfly hatches, particularly during blue winged olive (Baetis) emergences. The color scheme matches BWO hatches perfectly but can be tied in various colors to match other mayflies.
Presentation
Fish with a dead drift in runs, riffles, and seams where mayflies emerge. The deer hair wing makes this pattern easy to track, even in complex currents. Focus on slower currents and eddies where duns collect before taking flight.
When to Use
Select this pattern during mayfly hatches when fish are taking duns on the surface. Particularly effective when fish are selective and require a more realistic profile than standard parachute patterns offer.
Water Type
Designed for moving water, particularly riffles, runs, and tailouts where mayflies emerge. Excels on both freestone rivers and tailwaters during Baetis hatches.
Rigging Suggestions
Fish on a 9-12 foot leader tapering to 5X-6X tippet for delicate presentations. The deer hair wing provides enough buoyancy for light dry-dropper rigs with small nymphs.
Visibility & Floatation
The deer hair wing provides excellent visibility for the angler while maintaining a natural silhouette. The combination of deer hair wing and sparse hackle ensures the fly rides properly in the surface film with the body partially submerged like a natural dun.
