For the backpacking fly fisher, choosing flies that are multi-use allows you to save space and carry a lighter, more packable fly box. I can’t think of a better, more versatile pattern than the humble hair-wing dun. It’s easy to tie, can represent a variety of species, and is convertible. Leave the tails on and it’s a mayfly. Clip the tails off and it magically transforms into a caddis. Need an emerger? Clip the wing down short and add floatant to it so that the only the abdomen rides in the surface film. Here’s a simple recipe that I carry with me in a few sizes to imitate a number of mayfly and caddis species. You can tie them in multiple colors but I find that neutral tones such as greys and browns work just fine.
Hook: TMC 100 BL (barbless) #14 – #20 Thread: 8/0 (color to match) Tails: Microfibetts, split (color to match) Abdomen: Goose Biot (color to match) Thorax: Dry fly hackle (color to match, clipped on bottom to form a “V”) Wing: Natural Deer Hair (tied Elk Hair Caddis style)
{ 9 comments… read them below or add one }
Hey Ross,
Thanks for checking out the site. I’d be more than happy to tell you more about Tenkara fly rods. The quick answer to your question is that the lines are 10 1/2 ft. so they about the same length as the rods. Give me a call at 303-803-2740 begin_of_the_skype_highlighting 303-803-2740 end_of_the_skype_highlighting and we can talk shop about them (or any other backpacking and flyfishing stuff). I’m always up for a chat about my two favorite things!
-Jason
Jason,
interesting site, I am a backpacker and fly fisherman. I am interested in this Japanese flyrod. It looks like a good setup for high stick nymphing. Do you offer this exclusively, I’d never seen anything like it. Is the flyline and leader about the length of the rod?
Ross,
No, I can’t take credit for that one. I’m not sure who originally invented the hairwing dun. I thought it was Rene Harrop. Anyone else know for sure?
Hey Jason,
Love that fly. I realy like that it can become so many things. Is that a klass original version. May have to tie some up.
Lance
Hey Linda,
Thanks, I appreciate the feedback. Unfortunately, I don’t have the funds to optimize the site for every mobile device/browser. Right now, it’s just going to have to be a simple site. But I will get it optimized once I start getting a return. In the meantime, I’ll be posting free information that you can get easily from your laptop or PC instead of your Blackberry or iPhone.
-Jason
Interesting article. I thought to let you know that you website wasn’tt getting displayed properly on skyfire web browser on y pda.
Have a good time…sorry for typos
Jason, really like the flies and tying vids presented in your blog…re: this one, the hairwing dun, what is happening at the thorax from the hackle to the eye? is that dubbing?
No, there’s no dubbing. You just dub up to the thorax, leave a little space near the eye and tie in the wing like an elk hair caddis.
OK, thanks…great fly!