Sparkle Dun

How it's tied

The Sparkle Dun is typically tied on a dry fly hook, ranging from sizes 12 to 22 depending on the specific mayfly species being imitated. The body of the fly is formed from fine dubbing, often in natural colors to match the local mayflies.

A defining feature of the Sparkle Dun is its deer hair wing, which is tied comparadun style — flared out over the body. This gives the fly a low, realistic profile and helps it float.

The tail of the Sparkle Dun, often made from antron or z-lon fibers, imitates the nymphal shuck from which the mayfly is emerging. This simple but effective detail can make the difference when trout are feeding selectively on emergers.

What it mimics

The Sparkle Dun is designed to mimic a mayfly dun during its emergence, when it's most vulnerable and thus highly attractive to trout. The fly's unique design accurately represents the mayfly's silhouette, its upright wings, and the trailing shuck.

Where it's used

The Sparkle Dun is most effective in rivers and streams during a mayfly hatch. It's designed to be fished on the surface, imitating a mayfly that's just emerged and is about to take flight.

This pattern is extremely versatile and can be tied in various sizes and colors to match specific mayfly species, making it a highly valuable fly during mayfly hatches.