How to Tie a Pale Morning Dun Parachute Fly (Step-by-Step Guide)

Fly Tying

Aug 13

A delicate, high-floating dry fly perfect for imitating small mayflies like the Pale Morning Dun, this pattern is a must-have for fishing slow-moving rivers and technical hatches.

Step-by-Step Instructions

Step 1: Start Your Thread Base
Secure your light khaki 8/0 thread (e.g., Uni 8/0) at the hook eye and run a smooth thread base halfway down the shank. Return halfway back up to form a tapered base.

Step 2: Prepare and Tie in CDC Wing
Select two light pale natural CDC feathers. Tie them in so they curve away from one another, with the wing tips measuring approximately the length of the hook shank. Trim the butts at an angle toward the hook bend to help shape a tapered body.

Step 3: Tie in the Tail
Using light pale microfibbets, measure a tail length equal to or slightly longer than the hook. Tie them in on top of the shank at the rear and splay them using figure-eight wraps and a few wraps underneath to fan them out evenly.

Step 4: Tie in the Turkey Biot Body
Select a pale morning dun-colored turkey biot. Tie in the biot with the fine edge facing up and the darker ridge trailing for segmentation. Add a thin layer of super glue or varnish to the thread base, then wrap the biot forward to just behind the wing, forming a smooth segmented body.

Step 5: Add Thorax Dubbing
Use a small amount of hare’s ear dubbing (or any dry fly dubbing in gray or pale yellow) to create a thorax, building slightly behind and in front of the CDC wing post.

Step 6: Prepare and Post the Hackle
Select a medium dun dry fly hackle. Strip the base fibers and tie it in in front of the CDC wing. Post the hackle and wing together by wrapping thread up the wing base 5–6 turns.

Step 7: Wrap the Parachute Hackle
Palmer the hackle down the wing post with close, stacked wraps (typically 3–4 turns). Bring the hackle to your side and tie it off at the base of the post.

Step 8: Finish the Fly
Add a small pinch of dubbing in front of the post to neaten the head. Whip finish at the hook eye. Add a drop of varnish to the thread for durability.

Optional – Split the Wing
To create a natural wing profile, gently press the CDC fibers apart and set them with a dab of varnish or UV resin so they remain splayed.