Overview
This Charlie Craven pattern from Charlie's Fly Box showcases an innovative use of tungsten beads on a dry fly. The two small beads add just enough weight to help the pattern sit correctly in the film while also serving as a visible indicator for the angler. The combination of Superhair strands creates a natural translucency while the UV resin finish provides durability and a subtle sheen.
Related patterns
Behavior & presentation
- Natural Behavior
- Yellow Sally stoneflies ride the surface with wings held tent-like during emergence and egg-laying activity, struggling briefly before attempting flight. Their golden coloration and active surface movement attract aggressive strikes.
- Where Trout Eat It
- Fish position in riffle-to-run transitions and pocket water, rising to Yellow Sallies drifting in the surface film.
- How to Fish It
- Dead drift through riffles and runs with occasional slight twitches mimicking the struggling flight attempts of naturals.
- Best Water
- Focus on riffles where stoneflies emerge, runs collecting drifting adults, and pocket water concentrating surface insects.
- Strike Type
- Expect visible rises and confident takes as fish attack the pattern on the surface.
Fishing strategy
- Rigging Suggestions
- Fish on 5X-6X fluorocarbon tippet. The double bead design makes the fly easier to track visually, reducing the need for an indicator.
- Seasonal Timing
- Most effective during when Yellow Sally stoneflies are active. Peak activity typically occurs from late morning through afternoon.
- Pro Tips
- The yellow coloration and holographic tinsel casing provide excellent visibility for the angler. The fly rides low in the film with a realistic silhouette that matches emerging or egg-laying Yellow Sallies.
Where to fish it
Rivers anglers pair with this fly, with local shops that stock it.
River details and fly shops from River & Run, our sister site.
Entomology
Pale morning dun adults rest on the water surface immediately after emergence, slowly drying their freshly unfurled wings while drifting downstream in vulnerable clusters. Fish rise confidently to these newly hatched mayflies because they float motionless for extended periods during morning and evening emergence windows, making them predictable and easy prey.
- Order
- Ephemeroptera
- Family
- Ephemerellidae
- Common name
- Pale Morning Dun
- Organism
- insect
- Life stage
- dun
Pattern details
- Moving Water
- Rocky Mountain
- dead-drift
- baetis-hatch
- stonefly-hatch
- modern
- jigging
