Tricorythodes/Tricos - Dun
Tricorythodes stygiatus.
Tiny, tough to tie, hard to thread the tippet into, and darn near impossible to see at more than three
feet on the water. No doubt the most difficult fly in our box!
But the darn thing catches fish and big fish at that.
In the Not Quiet Entomology section is more on the life of
this most productive of tiny flies. Suffice it to say that you want to become very comfortable with it,
for at some times of the year it is the only hatch you are likely to find.
The dun and spinner are the phases most commonly imitated by fly fisherman, though a small (size 18 or
smaller) all black nymph can be fished in the bottom or in the film as an emerger.
The tails on the dun are particularly important as they prevent the fly from rolling over on the water.
They should be splayed widely and about twice the length of the body. The natural has three very
long tails, but fortunately, as fish do not count, we can make do with just two tails.
The fly shown here is tied with size 12/0 black thread. It is all thread, but could be dubbed in the larger
sizes if you like. The hook shown is a normal TDE. In the smaller sizes for gap clearance you might
want to go to a turned up, or at least a straight eye type hook.
With the above caveats, let’s tie a Trico Dun (next week we will do the spinner).
Materials
Hooks: Mustad 94840 sz 18 to 26.
Thread: Black 12/0 or smaller.
Body: Thread or Black Beaver or Seal
Wings: White or Very light dun Duck Quill.
Tail: Dun Micro Fibbets.
Originally published June 26, 2000 on Fly Anglers Online.