Hook Size: 16
The Perfect Fly Small Western Dark Hendrickson Dun is an excellent imitation of the adult stage of life of the mayfly. It imitates the mayfly as it drifts or floats on the surface, drying it wet wings enough to fly off the water onto the banks, bushes or trees where it will eventually change into the spinner stage of life. It even imitates the dun down to two or three tails and it two upright wings. It is fished on the surface as a dry fly. It should be treated with floatant.
The Small Western Dark Hendrickson duns hatch between early July and September in
most of the streams we have found them in. Since they live in water ranging from low to
high altitudes, I would think the emergence would occur during a very wide range of times.
Presentation:
The duns could be found in the smoother sections of pocket water or in streams with
smooth flowing water. The dun should be presented accordingly. Basically I use an
upstream or up and across presentation in pocket water and a downstream or down and
across presentation in smooth water.
The small duns may have a problem getting off the water in some cases. They may hatch
is very shallow water in some cases. I would suggest using a longer leader and tippet.
You also may want to go fairly light, using a 6X or even 7X tippet if the water is extremely
clear and shallow.
Copyright 2013 James Marsh
