Pale Morning Dun - Pale Evening Dun

These two families of light colored may flies were designed for the angler who would rather sleep late. P.M.D. (Pale Morning Duns) can start late morning and during some magic days, still be going strong into the late afternoon. In our local rivers these hatches start in June and run into August. P.E.D. (Pale Evening Duns) hatch in the late afternoon and some times continue into the dark. July and August are the peak months. The same flies can work for both hatches but be aware that there can be many subtle color and size variations. The fish can be very, very picky; keying on the minutest detail. The selection of flies listed below will cover all of the situations that we've encountered.

Evidently changing from nymph to dun is an arduous task for P.M.D.'s. Many get hung-up in the nymphal shuck and are crippled or still-born. Even healthy insects are most vulnerable when sliding from their nymphal skin. At this stage they can neither swim, nor fly. Some trout will completely ignore healthy duns and key only on deformed insects, or target insects that are "hung in the shuck". Be patient and observe closely.

The P.M.D. Cripple is a deadly fly, especially during the first stages of the hatch. P.M.D. Sparkle Duns replicate the same insect at a later stage of development. Try fishing a sparkle Dun on a dropper and a Cripple on the point.

Trout can feed ravenously on peak hatches of P.M.D.'s. If this happens in soft riffle water, you can experience some of the worlds best small dry fly fishing. The patterns listed below span a number of colors and silhouettes. All are appropriate at times. P.M.D. behavior can vary between species and different stages of the hatch.

The Extended Body C.D.C. pattern is a very lightweight, low-floater. The Thorax pattern is more robust and upright. The Light Orange Parachute is the perfect mimic for the pinkish P.M.D.'s that hatch with the Salmon Flies. The Compara Dun Sulfur might be your best evening fly in July.

Pale Morning Duns and their Evening cousins produce prolific and predictable spinner falls. These falls can produce serious rises from trout holding in slick water.  These rises are often very quiet, barely disturbing the surface.

The tiny spinners are difficult to see on the water. Careful observation, long light leaders and delicate presentations are the keys to success.

All hooks are barbless.

Back-eddy trout photo by: Mark Bachmann

Fly photos: Frontier Flies

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