Pale morning duns

tom-travis · September 6, 2010, 12:00pm

Sysadmin Note
Click here for Part 3. This is Part 4 in the series

UNDERSTANDING STRATEGIES FOR MATCHING THE HATCH

There are several factors that the angler must consider when fishing dry mayfly imitations over selectively feeding trout. Approach, presentation, line control, pattern selection, tackle considerations, and an understanding of the trout all play a part in the success or failure of the angler. Therefore, we should study these various factors and understand how we, as anglers, can use the information to become more effective and frustrated less often. In an article dealing with fishing for steelhead Lani Waller once wrote:

“I’m convinced that understanding and controlling your presentation is absolutely critical for angling success, perhaps the most critical factor of all.”

This statement, though made in reference to steelhead fishing, applies to fishing the dry fly and, everything else being equal, I am in total agreement. The first thing that the angler who chooses to work selective trout should realize is that all factors are important and equally so. The angler may have excellent presentation skills but suffer failure through having a poor pattern selection and so on. Thus the angler needs to perfect all the skills needed to deal with selectively feeding trout. The skills of tying the imitations, casting and proper presentation methods can all be taught in the classrooms so to speak, and the angler then needs practice to perfect them. But the single most important factor in the success of the angler is the ability to observe, sometimes called stream awareness. This skill can be explained and even demonstrated but the angler must invest some time astream to perfect this much-needed skill.

Over the years I have watched many anglers who seem to possess reasonable casting and presentation skills, whose line control and pattern selection were more than adequate and whose tackle was more than satisfactory for the situation at hand. But, who were frustrated and unable to move trout to their patterns simply because they failed to be observant and failed to understand what they had observed. I will first explain how the angler can practice this skill of observation and how to give meaning to what is observed. Then we will discuss what the trout sees and how they see it, along with discussing some of the factors which can influence the rise of the trout to a mayfly. We will also take a look at the different rise types and what they mean to the angler.

The way that I was able to hone my skills of observation was at first by going fishing but not fishing! Now are you confused? Let me explain. When I would go fishing, being young I was always too impatient to just sit on the bank and observe what the trout were doing. Therefore, I made myself go fishing but instead of taking a rod and reel I took a notebook and pen. Because I was unable to pick up a rod and start fishing I soon learned more about the trout and was able to increase my effectiveness.

We have several streams in the area where the angler can do this and learn a great deal of useful information that can be applied to all different types of fly-fishing. The best streams for observation are: The Upper Yellowstone River (above the Falls), and Slough Creek in Yellowstone National Park, and also the spring creeks of Paradise Valley. As I have said before these are the greatest fly fishing classrooms in the world.

The late Vince Marinaro who published A Modern Dry Fly Code in 1950, wrote

“The careful and observant angler will notice anything that might be useable in trout psychology when pursuing the target. Drift lines, rise types, placement of cover and feeding rhythm.”

“The importance of observing whether a natural is riding in or on (or both) in the film is critical in selecting the proper pattern and presentation method.”

These are just two of many informative statements in his delightful book. Remember that this volume was published in 1950, twenty years before the coming of Selective Trout. Marinaro’s work in A Modern Dry Fly Code and in his 1976 publication In the Ring of the Rise should be mandatory reading for any angler who wishes to seriously fish over tough, selectively feeding trout. Another book which will go far in assisting the angler to understand the trout and how they feed on dry mayflies is Swisher & Richards 1970 classic, Selective Trout, along with their often overlooked 1975 publication Fly Fishing Strategy. These volumes will open up a whole new world to the dry fly angler.

By reading and studying these volumes the angler can learn what to look for and how to look for it. Then practice, practice, and more practice. The beauty is that you never stop learning and the information learned through observation will assist you in becoming a better and more effective angler regardless of what techniques and methods you are using.

Let’s now take a look at the various rise forms that the angler can encounter. They are the splashy rise, the simple rise, the compound rise, the complex rise, and the sipping rise. These are the rise forms that the angler deals with fishing dry mayfly imitations over selectively feeding trout. We will examine each type and talk about the basic mechanics of the rise types.

SPLASHY RISE

This rise type is often seen when the adults are skittering or moving about on the surface of the water. Often I have observed smaller trout rising this way, but I have also seen good fish rise in this manner if the insect being fed on is substantial in size, like the gray, brown or green drakes. Sometimes on a breezy day when these insects are trying to lift off the water the wind will skitter them along the surface and BOOM the surface explodes with a splashy rise from a trout of considerable size.

SIMPLE RISE

In his 1976 publication entitled In the Ring of the Rise the late Vince Marinaro does a wonderful job of describing the simple rise. His phrasing is so much better than anything I could write therefore I am going to quote his description.

“The simple rise is the least complicated of the rise forms made by trout and usually occurs during a major hatch when the trout is sure of the food type floating downstream. It involves a quick decision by the trout and little hesitation is present. Starting at his observation post, the trout spies the fly and begins upward and downstream drift. At a point downstream the trout rises to the surface to meet the fly, and it is here that he will either take or refuse it. Regardless, he now returns to his holding area.” (Observation post‑my words.)

“Looking closely at the water’s surface, an angler may detect the rise of a trout evidenced by a circular ring.”

This type of rise is often referred to as the “Classic Dry Fly Rise” and is the one most anglers are familiar with.

COMPOUND RISE

Basically the compound rise is a continuation of the simple rise, but it involves a longer “drift and inspection”. This happens because something isn’t quite right. If the fly is an imitation it may be that the color, light pattern or size is slightly wrong or maybe the trout is seeing the tiniest bit of micro‑drag that causes it not to be sure. The major difference between the compound rise and the complex rise is that during the compound rise the trout continues to drift and inspect the offering and the angler must maintain a drag free float for as long as possible. Often times an imitation that starts dragging will not only be refused but can also spook the trout and put him down.

COMPLEX RISE

Cutthroat trout on Slough Creek and the Upper Yellowstone above the Falls often exhibit this type of rise form during late August and September when feeding on tiny blue winged olives. The complex rise is somewhat like the compound rise in that the trout rises up from his observation post and drifts along and carefully inspects the fly (natural or imitation) as there seems to be some doubt in his mind as to whether it’s really food or not. As the fly starts to finally drift past him, this is the time for decision. If something such as drag or maybe he didn’t like the way the legs were held (remember, this is just speculation on my part) then the trout will return to the observation post.

But if he does decide it’s food then he will turn after it (facing downstream) and pursue it. Once a trout has decided to take, seldom does he veer off and change his mind. As anglers we are often too quick to pick up and recast after the fly has started by the trout. If you do so with a complex rise you will spook the trout besides losing your chance to take a fish.

SIPPING RISE

The sipping rise is often the hardest to detect and only the most observant of anglers will see this rise type. I have sat on the bank at DePuy’s Spring Creek and on the Henry’s Fork and watched anglers walk right by sipping trout and never see them. Yet these trout are often the easiest to approach because they are holding near the surface and their field of vision is much more limited.

Often the trout is holding near the bank or close to the edge of a weedbed and is in a strong and regular feeding rhythm. Also note that the trout is holding very near the surface. The sipping trout is feeding in a very definite line of drift and will not move three inches either way to take the fly. It must come right to him. Once he has locked in on the fly there is a gentle tilting upward. The movement is often so slow and gradual that the angler never sees it. Once the trout is very close to the insect (within fractions of an inch), the jaws slowly open and the insect or fly disappears into a swirl. There is only the very slightest disturbance on the surface.

SWIVEL RISE

The swivel rise is often seen when the insect hatch is sparse but the trout have keyed into the adults. I have often seen this type of rise when the hatches are just getting started and when they start to wane. The trout will be spotted at his observation post and the angler will soon notice that the trout will move a considerable distance to his left or right to intercept a floating fly. The trout, when rising in this manner, are often holding deeper in the water to increase their field of vision and the angler must be careful in approaching these fish. This type of rise is often readily spotted because of the extreme movements of the trout and the visible disturbance on the surface. Upon moving to the fly the trout then returns to its observation post. Once the trout has made up its mind to rise in this manner, seldom does it shy off.

BANK OR EDGE SIPPING RISE

This is far and away both the toughest rise to spot and to fish for. The trout will be located under the very extreme edge of a bank or floating weedbed. These areas will be located where there is either a strong line of drift coming right to the feeding station or where back eddies continually move the food to the feeding station.

It also requires thoughtful contemplation of the approach and presentation prior to actually doing so. A hasty cast can often mean a spooked trout. These fish are seldom easy but with careful consideration of all the factors and careful handling of the tackle these trout can be taken. If the angler is careful with the casting and line control, often several casts can be made to the fish.

Now that we have covered the various rise forms that the angler can encounter while working over selectively feeding trout, we should examine the trout’s vision and understand how the field of vision will vary depending upon the depth that the trout is holding.

Sys Admin’s Note
Click here for Part 5

Sysadmin Note
Click here for Part 4. This is Part 5 in the series

WHAT TROUT SEE

Figures #1, #2 & #3 show the trout’s basic cone (field) of vision and what the trout can see while holding deep versus what the trout can see when holding close to the surface.

Figure #1

Figure #2

Figure #3

Now that we have a basic understanding of how the trout sees, we will explore what the trout sees as a mayfly enters its field of vision and how the information relates to pattern selection and presentation. The angler should remember that the artificial is nothing more than an imitation of the natural. Therefore if we want the trout to see the imitation as he does the natural we must strive to match that imitation as close as possible. Some say that because of the refracted light the trout doesn’t see this or that, but it is the entire fly which lends color to all parts therefore the artificial must be complete if we wish it to appear as the natural. The optical facts, which govern the manner in which a trout sees things on the surface, are well known physical laws concerning how light rays are bent or refracted when entering the water.

In A Modern Dry Fly Code, Vince Marinaro gives what I consider to be the best explanation of the trout’s field of view or “window” and how it is affected by the physical laws of refraction. Therefore, for those who would like a detailed and in depth study on this subject I highly recommend that you read this book. Understanding how the trout sees will be very important for the serious angler to master. The study of light patterns, refraction and the trout’s window can indeed prove to be heady material and is not for everyone.

Now we will move on and talk about the different types of hatches the angler may encounter and how to solve the problems these hatches can present. The easiest hatch for the angler is the simple hatch. This is where a single species of mayfly is hatching. If the trout are feeding on the surface, all the angler needs to do is make the proper approach, select the pattern that closely imitates the natural and make a proper drag free presentation. I can hear some anglers now saying “This is easy!! Ha!” Sure, this is the easy one. Wait and see.

The next hatch that the angler may encounter is the compound masking hatch. This situation can be encountered on several area streams such as the Henry’s Fork, Upper Yellowstone (above the Falls), Firehole, Slough Creek (below the campground) and Missouri River (below Holter Dam) just to name a few. To better explain this particular phenomenon I will relate one of my experiences on the South Branch of the Au Sable River (Michigan). This incident first made me aware of compound masking hatches.

The Hendricksons were on the water and the trout were moving to the duns in a regular feeding rhythm. I had been enjoying success with a size 14 Hendrickson thorax style dun, until I came to a long, smooth section lined with cedar sweeps. This section had some very nice trout (12" to 15") feeding tight along the banks. I worked those bank feeders for the better part of 40 minutes to no avail. They were just not interested in the Hendrickson imitations.

After they had, well let’s just say, slowed down the feeding rhythm, I waded over into their drift line to take a look. The reason they were not interested in the Hendrickson was that there was a heavier hatch of size 16 Paraleptophlebia species on the water. I backed out, and sat down to rest the spot. In about 15 or 20 minutes the trout resumed their feeding. I had changed flies putting on a size 16 thorax dun and it worked, sort of. Oh the trout took it readily enough. It’s just that I was tad bit excited over solving this problem and broke the fish off on the strike. Now I’m sure nothing like this has ever happened to you. If I would have landed that fish I would have pumped the stomach to confirm my findings. As it was I had to wait until fish number four to obtain that confirmation.

The key to solving the riddle was observation. The larger, more noticeable Hendrickson was masking the hatch of the smaller flies. This is very common and anglers who are not observant are frustrated and often times fishless.

The next hatch that we will cover is the multi-masking compound complex hatch. This hatch will test your skill levels and your abilities to remain cool and calm. This is where there are several different sizes and species of insects on the water. I remember a day on Henry’s Fork a few years ago where I encountered this situation. I found green drake spinners, green drake duns, pale morning duns, blue winged olive spinners and brown drakes. This doesn’t even count the beetles, ants and caddis. As you might imagine, with all this food the trout were feeding like crazy, but on what?

When you encounter this situation you must be very, very observant, pick a fish, and try to figure out what that fish is taking. “How?” OK, this situation is never easy and you’ll never be 100% right with every feeding trout, but there are some steps that you can follow in trying to figure out what your target is doing.

Pick a trout and work that trout. If you move to a second fish remember that there is a strong chance that this fish will be doing something different. In other words treat each feeding trout as an individual.
Approach your target as close as you can without spooking the trout. I prefer to approach from downstream. Get below the line of drift and see what insects are coming over the fish by using a small insect net to sample the water. Also determine what insect is present in the largest numbers and is easiest for the trout to capture.
I will also use a small pair (pocket size) of binoculars to watch the rise form and to see if I can see what the trout is eating.
I will then select the 3 or 4 patterns that I think might fool the trout. After considering the trout’s position, the drift line, and feeding rhythm I will start casting to trout using what I believe to be the proper presentation for the situation at hand. The angler should get as close as possible, as the longer the cast the more chance there is for drag.
Don’t waste a lot of time on a pattern, but at the same time don’t be hasty. Remember your fly is in direct competition with lots of naturals, therefore you need to have the patience to give the trout several good drifts. But don’t be afraid to change flies or tippet. If you have a hard time with knots, then you need to practice, practice and practice some more until it’s no longer a problem.
If you feel that you are doing everything in the proper manner but you still haven’t moved the fish then you may want to choose another fish and start the process over.

This type of hatch is a very interesting and technical problem for the serious angler, but one that has its own rewards when you are successful.

I am often asked “What if no hatch is in progress? What patterns would you use as searching flies and does this method work on rivers where the trout are hatch oriented?”

Sure you can use searching patterns and methods but they have to be attuned to the stream you are fishing. Let me explain.

As an example I will use DePuy’s Spring Creek during late July. On a typical day these are the patterns I would employ as searching patterns to cover the water looking for feeders of opportunity if there was no noticeable hatch or surface feeding activity.

Morning

Olive Spinner 16-18

Mid-Morning

PMD Paradun 16-18

Noon

PMD Sparkle Dun 18-20

Mid-Afternoon

PMD Comparadun 18-20

Late Afternoon

Sulfur Parachute 18-20

Evening

Sulfur Thorax 20-22

Late Evening

Olive or Sulfur Spinner 18-22

This selection of patterns is geared toward imitating naturals that the trout would be seeing during this time period and the pattern selection would change as the hatches change and of course would vary from river to river depending on the hatches.

The angler who has good basic casting and presentation skills, is observant, approaches with caution, has a good understanding of the trout and its habits and carries the most complete selection of imitations possible for the area being fished, will generally be able to find something the trout will be interested in. But all factors must be studied and evaluated if the angler wishes to consistently take selective trout.

This information is by no means the final word on strategies. I strongly urge the angler to read and study other methods to gain a more complete understanding. Then I urge you to develop your own theories based on experience and observation. We can never learn enough and therein lays the eternal challenge and intrigue of fishing with the dry fly. Someone once said that “the inquiring mind is the progressive, learning mind”. Therefore, as anglers we should all strive to be inquiring.

Sys Admin’s Note
Click here for Part 6

Sysadmin Note
Click here for Part 5. This is Part 6 in the series

FISHING SPENT ADULT IMITATIONS

Here on the local spring creeks of Paradise Valley the late evening spinner falls are ignored by 97% of the anglers. Generally, by the time the spinners come down and hit the water, most of the anglers have left the creeks. But those few who do stay are amply rewarded with some of the finest dry fly action of the day.

Besides the obvious spinner falls, there are other times when spent wing imitations can be very effective. Let’s talk about spinners and spinner imitations, discussing where and when they might be used effectively. Here again you will see that the key to successfully using spinner imitations is careful observation by the angler.

There are times other than an actual spinner fall when the angler can effectively use spinners.

On rainy days, during the hatch, many of the duns can be beaten flat by raindrops and are floating drowned and spent in the film.
On windy days some adults can be blown flat by wind. Trapped in the surface film they will drown and once again float spent on the surface.
Some duns can drown due to wave and current action and once again the angler will find them floating spent on the surface of the water.
Many times, early in the morning, there will still be a few spinners around from the night before, drifting, getting sucked into back eddies or foam pools. Many times I have used spinner imitations to take trout that were feeding on last night’s leftovers.
Another time I will use a spinner imitation is after the hatch has been over for about an hour. Then I use the spinner pattern as a searching pattern, covering the water and looking for those feeders of opportunity.
The angler also needs to be aware of what I call mini-spinner falls. On most streams that are “insect rich” there will be insect hatches that are so sparse and undependable that the angler either hasn’t noticed them or never sees the trout feed on them. On DePuy’s Spring Creek we have a couple of good examples of mini hatches. In late August and early September, we can find Trico Spinners on the water during the PMD hatch. At times the spinners will be there in enough numbers to interest some of the trout.

So if you have tried all the patterns that you feel should be producing and get nothing, check the surface of the water carefully for there may be a spinner on the water that has gone unnoticed that is causing the problem. Once again, in using the “Formula for Success” the angler will be prepared for these types of angling situations and, through careful observation, will be able to solve the problem.

As you can see there may be many occasions where the spinner imitation can be employed with success.

Now we come to fishing the spinner falls themselves. As a general rule most of the major spinner falls on the spring creeks of Paradise Valley occur in the late evening hours. A gloomy, overcast day can bring the spinners down early or a windy day may delay the spinner fall. On a typical day the spinners will come down with the last 30 minutes of daylight.

I like to approach the trout from below, with the fading light you can get pretty close. Once the trout are keyed in to the spinner they are holding close to the surface and feeding in a steady rhythm. I cast my imitation up, drop the rod tip, bring in the slack as the stream feeds it to me and I watch for noses. Most of the time I don’t see my fly and I’m not even trying to. Trying to see a small flush-floating pattern under these conditions can lead to severe eyestrain. But I know where the fly is and when I see the nose, I gently lift and tighten. This type of fishing can be very rewarding.

However, not all spinner falls occur in the late evening. On the Big Horn River the Trico will come down around mid-morning. Even though the light may be great, I still try to approach the feeding trout as close as possible. Due to the number of naturals on the water, you still may have problems seeing your imitation.

Put on a dry fly that is visible and then tie on an additional section of tippet material right to the bend of the hook. Fish your spinner 20 to 30 inches behind the visible dry. This method will help you track that hard-to-see imitation.

Once anglers learn about how important spinner imitations can be, and master the awareness of where, when and how to successfully use them, they become more complete and successful fly fishers.

MORE NOTES ON PMD HATCHES

One of the most important tools that the angler has is the ability to observe and think!!

Often we try to return to our favorite river about the same time every year, and we hope that things will be the same as were last year when the fishing was so good. However, seldom are things the very same two years in a row. The first thing that I do in this situation is to walk the stream in question, looking at the weed growth, looking at the water levels. You don’t have to be a photo journalist; all you need is a point and shoot camera and a fishing journal. With these tools you can find the differences between this year and last, if there is any.

By knowing the differences between the two seasons is important to where the trout may be found. In the spring creeks the weed growth and the water will impact where the trout are found in the stream. As in all situations, first you find the trout, then you figure out what they are feeding, and then you figure out what pattern and what method of presentation are needed to successfully catch selectively feeding trout.

Rene Harrop says “Dealing with PMD’s means exactness in all aspects of presentation and imitation”.

One of the toughest methods of fishing, is a small nymph with a drag free drift without the use of a strike indicator can be much more difficult than fishing with a dry fly or an emerger.
At times when the trout is found in shallow water or in very still slow moving water the uses of a indicator may spook the trout. I have seen it happen. Then you must use a nymph without an indicator. This means that you must judge the sink rate of your nymph versus the current speed to gage where to place the cast, then you must be able to follow the drift and react to the trout’s movements. This is among the most difficult challenges that the angler must master in fishing selectively feeding trout. Once you master the ability to fish a nymph without a indicator you rise to new levels of concentration and line control skills. Even though you are not using a indicator you still have the butt of the leader and fly line tip, the actual drift line and watching the trout.

Next week we will publish the list of patterns that the author uses for this hatch.

Sysadmin Note
Click here for Part 6. This is Part 7 in the series

PMD PATTERNS - NYMPHS

Many anglers don’t like to fish nymphs, which is a personal choice that each angler must make. However, I would like to point that 85% of what the trout eats is under the surface of the water. Personally I would cultivate an interest in mastering fishing the nymph.

Notes: Weighted patterns are tied on TMC 200R, the weight used is .011 lead fuse wire wrapped through the thorax. The patterns with no weight are tied on TMC 101. The patterns tied on TMC 2457, are of medium weight. These patterns are tied on a heavy hook, but with no additional weight added to the hook. I am only going to list the hooks on the very first nymph. All the rest will be tied on the same hooks. The thread and the sizes are also the same for all nymphs, unless otherwise listed.

PMD Nymphs

Hooks:
- TMC 200R Sizes: 14-20
- TMC 101 16-20
- TMC 2457 14-18
Thread: 12/0 Lite Dun
Tails: Wood Duck Flank Fibers
Abdomen: Turkey Wing Quill Fibers, dyed PMD
Wing case: Pheasant Tail Fibers, dyed Yellow/Olive, Dark, tied Sawyer Style
Thorax: Dubbed, Scintilla #15, Pale Yellowy/Olive, picked out

PMD Nymphs, Brown

Tails: Wood Duck Flank Fibers
Abdomen: Turkey Wing Quill Fibers, dyed Brown
Wing case: Pheasant Tail Fibers, dyed Yellow/Olive, Dark, tied Sawyer Style
Thorax: Dubbed, Scintilla #15, Pale Yellowy/Olive, picked out

PMD Nymphs, Dark Olive

Tails: Wood Duck Flank Fibers
Abdomen: Turkey Wing Quill Fibers, dyed BWO
Wing case: Pheasant Tail Fibers, dyed Yellow/Olive, Dark, tied Sawyer Style
Thorax: Dubbed, Scintilla #15, Pale Yellowy/Olive, picked out

PMD Spec Golden Olive

Tails: Wood Duck Flank Fibers
Ribbed: Dark Ultra Thread, Fine
Abdomen: Dubbed, Scintilla Special Golden Olive
Wing case: Pheasant Tail Fibers dyed Yellow/Olive, dark, tied Sawyer Style
Thorax: Dubbed, Scintilla Special Golden Olive, picked out to form legs

Sawyer Pheasant Tail Nymph

Hooks:
- TMC 200R Size: 14-20
- TMC 2457 14-18
- TMC 101 14-20
Thread: 12/0 Brown
Tails: Pheasant Tail Fibers, dyed Yellow/olive
Abdomen: Pheasant Tail Fibers, dyed Yellow/olive
Wing case: Pheasant Tail Fibers, dyed Yellow/olive, dark
Thorax: Pheasant Tail Fibers, dyed Yellow/olive

Sawyer Copper Pheasant Tail Nymph

Hooks:
- TMC 200R Size: 14-20
- TMC 101 14-20
- TMC 2457 14-18
- Note: There are no unweighted versions of this pattern. The reason for tying this imitation on the different hooks is simply body shape.
Thread: 12/0 Brown
Tails: Natural Pheasant Tail Fibers
Abdomen: Natural Pheasant Tail Fibers, thin strands of Copper wire, twisted together and wrapped
Wing case: Natural Pheasant Tail Fibers, dark, tied Sawyer Style
Thorax: Fine Copper Wire, layered to build up the thorax

Sawyer American Pheasant Tail Nymph

Thread: 12/0 Brown
Tails: Natural Pheasant Tail Fibers
Abdomen: Natural Pheasant Tail Fibers
Wing case: Natural Pheasant Tail Fibers, Dark, tied Sawyer
Thorax: Peacock Hurl Fibers

Sawyer Flashback Pheasant Tail Nymph

Thread: 12/0 Brown
Tails: Pheasant Tail Fibers, dyed Yellow/Olive
Abdomen: Pheasant Tail Fibers, dyed Yellow/Olive
Wing case: Krystal Flash Fibers, tied Sawyer style
Thorax: Dubbed, Scintilla #15 Pale Yellowy/olive

Black Sawyer PMD Nymph

Thread: 12/0 Dark Dun
Tails: Wood Duck Flank Fibers
Abdomen: Black & Olive Pheasant Tail Fibers
Wing case: Black Pheasant Tail Fibers, Tied Sawyer Style
Thorax: Dubbed, Scintilla #15 Pale Yellowy/Olive

Soft Hackle PMD Nymph

Hook:
- TMC 2457 Size: 14-18
- TMC 101 14-20
- TMC 200R 14-20
Thread: 12/0 Sandy Dun
Tails: Hungarian Partridge Back Feather Fibers, Mottled Brown
Rib: One strand of Olive Krystal Flash
Abdomen: Dubbed, Harrop’s Fine & Natural, PMD
Wing case: Hungarian Partridge Back Feather
Legs: Hungarian Partridge Back Feather, mottled brown
Thorax: Dubbed, Harrop’s Fine & Natural, PMD

PMD Soft Hackle

Hook: TMC 2457 Sizes: 14-18
Thread: 12/0 Sandy Dun
TMC 101 14-20
Tails: Wood Duck Flank Fibers
Body: Turkey Wing Quill Fibers, dyed PMD
Thorax: Scintilla #15 Pale Yellowy/Olive
Hackle: Lite Dun, Hen Hackle
Head: Dubbed, same the thorax

Note: This pattern should be tied sparse and forward on the hook.

PMD Flymph

Hook: TMC 100 Sizes: 14-20
Thread: 12/0 Sandy Dun
Tails: Lite Dun Hackle Fibers
Abdomen: Turkey Wing Quill Fibers, dyed PMD
Thorax: Sheared Beaver, PMD
Hackle: Lite Dun Hen Hackle

Note: This pattern can also be tied with a Brown Abdomen or a BWO Abdomen.

PMD Subsurface Nymph

Hook: TMC 2457 Sizes: 14-18
Thread: 12/0 Sandy Dun
Tails: Pheasant Tail Fibers, dyed Yellow/Olive
Abdomen: Dubbed, Sheared Beaver dyed BWO
Wing cases: Yellow Dry Cell Fly Foam, two strips
Thorax: Dubbed, Sheared Beaver dyed PMD, picked out

Note: This pattern is designed to sink below the surface 3 to 6 inches. Remember I mentioned that sometimes the nymphs begin to hatch out below the surface.

If you tied all of these patterns in the various versions, you would have 39 variations of PMD nymphs. These are what I consider to be the best of the best. However, there are a great many other nymph patterns for PMD’s that I am sure would work equally as well. But I have been using these patterns for a long time and have continued to modify them as the need arose.

Often anglers change their patterns because one falls out of popular favor, or another pattern becomes the new hot item. I have found that learning to properly present the imitations under all conditions is much more important than finding new patterns!!

On the Henry’s Fork of the Snake there lives an angler whom I consider to be the most talented angler and hatch oriented fly tier in the west, his name is Rene Harrop. I have known Rene for a number of years and found him not only to be a talented fly tier but also a thoughtful angler. Rene talks about the tier’s frame of mind when the angler/tier is filling the PMD Boxes. I agree. I rely on my fishing journals, my marked stomach samples and the videos I record dealing with the PMD Hatches.

I also review what has been written by others and the patterns they have designed for PMD’s. Rene believes and I agree that PMD Duns are not the most inviting stage to the trout due to the fact that duns tend to leave the water very quickly. On occasion you get one of those days when the weather conditions are perfect when the duns are on the water for long periods of time and thus the trout become aware of duns and feed on them. However, 90% of the time the duns leave the surface of the water quickly, becoming a poor target for the trout. The most important tool that the angler/tier has is the ability to observe and the ability to hunt. Rene Harrop is the ultimate trout hunter.

Therefore, nymphs and emergers become the most important imitations during the hatch. Another factor that the angler must consider is where to place the imitation. A lot of anglers believe in long drifts to the trout, drifts of eight to ten feet. However, a lot of trout can be taken by putting the fly twelve inches above the feeding fish.

Once you have mastered the skills you need to understand the feeding trout and the imitations the next most important item for the angler to master is the ability to solve situational angling solutions. This takes the ability to observe and then understand what you have observed. Again remember the statement: “It’s not how many hours a day you fish, but how many hours a day you fish effectively”. Slow down and take your time!!! Speed does not mean you will catch more fish. It means you will become more frustrated.

Editor’s Note
Rene´ Harrop has an excellent new book entitled Learning from the Water, Stackpole Books, ISBN 978-0-8117-0579-0, Hardcover - $39.95

Sys Admin’s Note
Click here for Part 8

Sysadmin Note
Click here for Part 7. This is Part 8 in the series

PALE MORNING DUN EMERGERS

The most important patterns of the hatch

Parachute PMD Surface Emergers

Hook: TMC 101 Sizes: 14-20 Thread: 12/0 Sandy Dun
Hook: TMC 2487 14-20
Tails: Lite Dun Dry Fly Hackle Fibers
Abdomen: Turkey Wing Quill Fibers, dyed PMD
Wing post: Yellow Dry Cell Fly Foam
Hackle: Lite Dun Dry Fly Hackle, Tied Parachute Style
Thorax: Dubbed, Scintilla #15 Pale Yellowy/Olive
Note: This pattern can also be tied with Brown and BWO Turkey wing quill fiber abdomens. I have used the pattern as both an emerger and a parachute spinner with equal success. You could also use a rolled shuck dubbing, of Scintilla #30 Pale Olive Brown

CDC PMD Surface Emergers

Hook: TMC 101 Sizes: 14-20 Thread: 12/0 Sandy Dun
Hook: TMC 2487 14-20
Tails: Lite Dun Dry Fly Hackle Fibers
Abdomen: Turkey Wing Quill Fibers, dyed PMD
Wings & Legs: Lite Dun CDC
Head: Dubbed, Scintilla #15 Pale Yellowy/Olive
Note: This pattern can also be tied with Brown and BWO Turkey wing quill fiber abdomens.

PMD Hackled Nymphs

Hook: TMC 101 Sizes: 14-20 Thread: 12/0 Sandy Dun
Hook: TMC 2487 14-20
Tails: Wood Duck Flank Fibers
Abdomen: Turkey Wing Quill Fibers, dyed PMD
Wing case: Yellow Dry Cell Fly Foam
Hackle: Lite Dun Dry Fly Hackle Fibers
Thorax: Dubbed, Scintilla #15 Pale Yellowy/Olive

Notes: This pattern can also be tied with Brown and BWO Turkey Wing Quill Fibers. You can change this pattern by using a rolled Dubbing Shuck for the tail or by using a trimmed hackle quill stem as the tail. Another material that can be used as a shuck is a trimmed Emu feather.

Another way that this pattern can be used is to trim the hackle off the bottom, just leaving on the sides. This places the imitation lower in the surface film.

PMD Foam Floating Nymph

Hooks: TMC 101 Sizes: 14-20 Thread: 12/0 Sandy Dun
TMC 2487 14-20
Tails: Lite Dun Dry Fly Hackle Fibers
Abdomen: Turkey Wing Quill Fibers, dyed PMD
Wingcase: Yellow Dry Cell Fly Foam
Thorax: Dubbed, Scintilla #15 Pale Yellowy/Olive

Notes: This pattern can be also tied with Brown or BWO Turkey Wing Quill Fibers abdomens. For tails you can use a rolled dubbing shuck (Scintilla #30 Pale Olive/Brown) or a trimmed dry fly hackle tail, using a Lite Dun hackle stem or a Grizzly Dyed olive hackle stem.

PMD Snowshoe Emerger

Hooks: TMC 101 Sizes: 14-20 Thread: 12/0 Sandy Dun
TMC 2487 14-18
Tails: Wood Duck Flank Fibers
Abdomen: Turkey Wing Quill Fibers, dyed PMD
Wing: Lite Dun Snowshoe Hair Fibers
Head: Dubbed, Scintilla #15 Pale Yellowy/Olive

Notes: Once again you can change the color of the Abdomen, by using Brown or BWO Turkey Wing Quill Fibers. The Tails can be changed by using a Rolled Dubbing Shuck or #30 Scintilla Pale Olive/Brown, or by using a hackle tip of Grizzly dyed Olive or Grizzly Bleached Ginger.

PMD Captive Dun

Hooks: TMC 2487 Sizes: 14-20 Thread: 12/0 Sandy Dun
Dai-Riki 125 14-20
Body Extension: PMD New Dun
Wing case: Yellow Dry Cell Fly Foam
Hackle: Lite Dun Dry Fly Hackle, palmered through the thorax
Thorax: Scintilla Micro fiber, PMD dubbing
Head: Dubbed, same as the thorax

CDC Bubble PMD Emerger

Hook: TMC 101 Sizes: 14-20 Thread: 12/0 Sandy Dun
TMC 2487 14-18
Dai-Riki 125 14-20
Tails: Wood Duck Flank Fibers
Abdomen: Rusty Olive Caddis Emerger Dubbing
Wing: CDC Lite Dun
Legs: Wood Duck Flank Fibers
Thorax: Dubbed, Scintilla #15 Pale Yellowy/Olive

Note This is a modification of a Rene Harrop pattern.

CDC Cripple PMD Emerger

Hook: TMC 100 Sizes: 14-20 Thread: 12/0 Sandy Dun
Tails: Tuff of Pale Olive Caddis Emerger Dubbing, with Wood Duck Flank
Fibers over the top
Abdomen: Turkey Wing Quill Fibers, Dyed BWO
Wings: Pair of Lite Dun CDC Feathers, angle over the eye of the hook
Thorax: Dubbed, Scintilla #15 Pale Yellowy/Olive
Hackle: Grizzly dyed Olive

Note: The abdomen colors can be changed using Turkey Wing Quill Fibers, dyed either PMD or Rusty. Tails could be a trimmed hackle stems or even dry fly hackle fibers. The hackle can be changed to Lite Dun Dry Fly Hackle. This is another Rene Harrop pattern that I have slightly modified.

CDC PMD Biot Emerger

Hook: TMC 101 Sizes: 14-20 Thread: 12/0 Sandy Dun
TMC 100 14-20
Tails: Wood Duck Flank Fibers
Abdomen: Turkey Wing Quill Fibers, dyed PMD
Thorax: Dubbing, Scintilla #15 Pale Yellow Olive
Wings: Lite Dun CDC Feathers
Legs: Lite Dun CDC Feathers
Head: Dubbed, Sheared Beaver, PMD

Note: The abdomen colors can be changed by using Turkey Biots of either PMD or Rusty.

Parachute PMD Nymph Emerger

Hook: TMC 101 Sizes: 14-20 Thread: 12/0 Sandy Dun
TMC 2487 14-20
Tails: Wood Duck Flank Fibers
Abdomen: Turkey Wing Quill Fibers, dyed PMD
Wingcase: Yellow Dry Cell Fly Foam
Hackle: Lite Dun Hackle tied parachute style
Thorax: Dubbed, Scintilla #15 Pale Yellowy Olive

Note: The tails can be changed to a rolled dubbing shuck or trimmed hackle stem. The abdomen colors can be changed by using BWO, Brown or Rusty Turkey wing quill fibers. The hackle color can be changed to grizzly dyed olive or bleached grizzly.

CDC Looped PMD Emerger

Hook: TMC 2487 Sizes: 14-20 Thread: 12/0 Sandy Dun
Tails: Wood Duck Flank Fibers
Abdomen: Turkey Wing Quill Fibers, dyed PMD
Wingcase: CDC Lite Dun Feather, pulled forward and bubbled over the thorax
Thorax: Dubbed, Scintilla #15 Pale Yellowy Olive
Legs: Wood Duck Flank Fibers
Head: Dubbed, Scintilla #15 Pale Yellowy Olive

Note: A rolled dubbing shuck could be used. The abdomen colors could be changed by using Brown or BWO Turkey wing quill fibers. Finally this pattern could be tied on the TMC 101.

PMD Transitional Dun

Hook: TMC 101 Sizes: 14-20 Thread: 12/0 Sandy Dun
Tails: Sparse tuft of rusty olive caddis emerger, plus Wood Duck Flank Fibers
Abdomen: Turkey Wing Quill Fibers, dyed PMD
Thorax: Harrop’s Fine & Natural Dubbing, PMD
Wing: Lite Dun CDC Feathers
Legs: Butts of the CDC wings
Head: Dubbed same as the thorax

Note: This is a Rene Harrop pattern which I have had excellent results with. If you will fill your boxes with all of the pattern modifications possible you will have 40 emerger patterns to work with.

Sys Admin’s Note
Click here for Part 9

Sysadmin Note
Click here for Part 8. This is Part 9 in the series

PALE MORNING DUN ADULTS

Even though PMD Duns are not the often the prime targets during the hatch, there are those rare days when the conditions are right and the trout will feed on the PMD duns. Also, there are windy days where the duns are knocked flat by the wind or waves and again, the trout will feed on the duns early in the hatch and after the hatch is over on duns.

In this mix of dun patterns there will be some that have trailing shucks. Some angler/tiers may choose to list them as emergers. That is fine, but I choose to list them with the dun imitations.

Finally, the spinner patterns are highly sought by the trout. Spinner falls may occur in the mornings, during the evenings and when clouds build up before an afternoon thunder storm. There are many times during the day that I use spinner and spent adult imitations. Sometimes during the off hatch period I have found that a spent imitation will fool a selective trout when nothing else will work.

Para-Dun PMD Extended Body

Hook: TMC 101 Sizes: 14-20 Thread: 12/0 Sandy Dun
Body Extension: PMD New Dubb
Wingpost: Chartreuse Saap Wing Material
Hackle: Lite Dun Dry Fly Hackle, tied Parachute style
Thorax: Dubbed, Scintilla #15 Pale Yellowy Olive

Note: This pattern with the bright wing is for the anglers who are starting to become visually challenged. By tying this pattern on a TMC 2487 you also achieve a different look on the water.

PMD Para-Dun

Hook: TMC 101 Sizes: 14-20 Thread: 12/0 Sandy Dun
Tails: Lite Dun Dry Fly Hackle Fibers
Abdomen: Turkey Wing Quill Fibers, dyed PMD
Wingpost: Lite Dun Saap Wing Fiber
Hackle: Lite Dun Hackle, Tied parachute style
Thorax: Dubbed, Scintilla #15 Pale Yellowy/Olive

Notes: This pattern can be modified using a dubbing rolled shuck trail and/or changing the hackle to grizzly dyed yellow or olive. For the blind anglers among us, or those who are becoming visually challenged, try tying the wingpost with Fl. Orange Antron Body Wool. You could also construct this imitation on a TMC 2487. If you do, only dress the thorax, wing and hackle, leaving the abdomen and shuck to settle in the water.

Thorax PMD

Hook: TMC 101 Sizes: 14-20 Thread: 12/0 Sandy Dun
Tails: Lite Dun Dry Fly Hackle Fibers
Abdomen: Turkey Wing Quill Fibers, dyed PMD
Wings: Lite Dun Turkey Flats, Trimmed to shape
Hackle: Lite Dun Hackle palmered through the thorax
Thorax: Scintilla #15 Pale Yellowy Olive

Notes: This pattern can be modified with a rolled dubbing shuck or a trimmed hackle stem, or by changing the hackle color. Also you could use a wing of antron body wool. Normally you trim the hackle flat on the bottom, however you could also fish it untrimmed. You could also do an abdomen of Olive Krystal flash.

PMD CDC Biot Dun

Hook: TMC 101 Sizes: 14-20 Thread: 12/0 Sandy Dun
Tails: Lite Dun Dry Fly Hackle Fibers
Abdomen: Turkey Wing Quill Fibers, dyed PMD
Wings: Lite Dun CDC Feathers
Legs: Butts of CDC Wing Feathers
Head: Dubbed, Scintilla #15 Pale Yellowy Olive

PMD Sparkle Dun

Hook: TMC 101 Sizes: 14-20 Thread: 8/0 Sandy Dun
Tails: Scintilla #30 Pale Olive Brown, Rolled Dubbing Shuck
Abdomen: Turkey Wing Quill Biots, dyed PMD
Wings: Lite Dun Coastal Deer Hair, or Lite Dun Turkey Flat Fibers
Thorax: Dubbed, Sheared Beaver, dyed PMD

Note: The wing can also be done with Gray partridge wing fibers. The pattern can also be tied with split hackle fibers or micro-fibbets, thus making the pattern a compara-dun.

PMD Hairwing Dun

Hook: TMC 101 Sizes: 14-20 Thread: 12/0 Sandy Dun
Tails: Lite Dun Dry Fly Hackle Fibers, Straight or Splayed
Body: Sheared Beaver dyed PMD
Hackle: Lite Dun Dry Fly Hackle Fibers, Trimmed on the Bottom
Wing: Lite Dun Coastal Deer Hair, or Bleached Deer Hair

Note: With a Splayed Tail, you tie this imitation with no hackle, or it could also be tied with a rolled dubbing shuck.

PMD Spent Adults

Hook: TMC 101 Sizes: 14-20 Thread: 12/0 Sandy Dun
Tails: Rolled Dubbing Shuck, Scintilla #30 Pale Olive Brown
Abdomen: Turkey Wing Quill Fibers, dyed PMD
Wings: Lite Dun Z-lon Fibers
Thorax: Dubbing, Scintilla #15 Pale Yellowy/Olive

Note: You could also tie this with Lite Dun Dry Fly Hackle Fiber Tails.

You could also place this imitation on TMC 2487 with an Olive Krystal Flash abdomen.

PMD Spinner

Hook: TMC 101 Sizes: 14-20 Thread: 12/0 Sandy Dun
Tails: Lite Dun Hackle Fibers, tied long
Abdomen: Turkey Wing Quill Fiber, dyed PMD
Wings: Lite Dun Hackle, wrapped tightly in the thorax area,
The hackle fibers gathered and figured eight with thread
Thorax: Dubbed, Scintilla #15 Pale Yellowy Olive

Note: Remember the males are colored PMD. The wings can be tied with Lite Dun Saap wing fiber.

Rusty PMD Spinner

Hook: TMC 101 Sizes: 14-20 Thread: 12/0 Sandy Dun
Tails: Lite Dun Hackle Fibers, tied long
Abdomen: Turkey Wing Quill Fiber, dyed Rusty
Wings: Lite Dun Hackle
Thorax: Dubbed, Harrop’s Fine & Natural Rusty

Note: The wings can be tied with Lite Dun Saap Wing Fiber.

PMD Para-Spinner

Hook: TMC 101 Sizes: 14-20 Thread: 12/0 Sandy Dun
Tails: Lite Dun Dry Fly Hackle Fibers, Tied Long
Abdomen: Dyed Porcupine Quill, PMD
Wingpost: White or Yellow, Dry Fly Foam Cylinder
Hackle: Lite Dun Dry Fly Hackle Fibers
Thorax: Fine and Dry Dubbing, PMD, Sparse

Note: This pattern can also be tied in a rusty variation.

This completes the patterns in this missive for PMD’s. I hope the information and the patterns help you become a better angler when working selective feeding trout.

Good Luck and Good Fishin’
Tom Travis

Bibliography
Western Streamside Guide	Dave Hughes	1987
Western Fly-Fishing Strategies	Craig Mathews	1998
Trout Hunter	Rene’ Harrop	2005
Small Fly Adventures in the West	Neale Streeks	1996
Western Mayfly Hatches	Rick Hafle, Dave Hughes	2004
Mayflies	Malcolm Knopp, Robert Cormier	1997
Hatch Guide for Western Streams	Jim Schollmeyer	1997
Fishing Yellowstone Hatches	John Juracek, Craig Mathews	1992
Fly Fishing the Yellowstone River	Tom Travis, Rod Walinchus	1995
Fly Fishers’ Guide to Montana	Greg Thomas	1997
Mastering The Spring Creeks	John Shewey	1994
Spring Creeks	Mike Lawson	2004
Nymphs Vol I, The Mayflies	Ernest G. Schwiebert	2007
Matching the Hatch	Ernest G. Schwiebert (1955)	1977
Selective Trout	Carl Richards, Doug Swisher	1971
Fly Fishing Some New Arts and Mysteries	J.C. Mottram (1921)	1994
The Way of A Trout with a Fly	G.E.M. Skues	1949
The Art of Chalk Stream Fishing	C.F. Walker	1968
Minor Tactics of the Chalk Stream	G.E.M. Skues	1924
A Modern Dry Fly Code	Vincent C. Marinaro (1950)	1970
In the Ring of the Rise	Vincent C. Marinaro	1976
Trout Two Vol Set	Ernest G. Schwiebert	1978
The Vade-Mecum of Fly Fishing for Trout	G.P.R. Pulman	1851
Nymphing	Gary A. Borger	1979
Nymph Fishing	Terry Lawton	2005
The Fly Fisher Guide	Geo. C. Bainbridge	1816
Trout Fishing From all Angles	Eric Taverner	1933
The Fly Fisher & The Trout’s Point of View	Col E. W. Harding	1931
River Angling for Salmon and Trout	John Younger	1840
Nymph Fishing in Practice	Oliver Kite, Robert Spaight	2000
Spinners	Sylvester Nemes	1995
The Soft-Hackled Fly Addict	Sylvester Nemes	1981
Fly Fishing Strategy	Doug Swisher, Carl Richards	1975
Mayflies “Top to Bottom”	Shane Stalcup	2002

Magazines
American Angler Magazine Nymphing Naked, May-June	John Shewey	2002
American Angler Magazine Making the Cut	Neale Streeks	2004
American Angler Magazine Entomology Summer	Rick Hafele	2004
American Angler Magazine Anatomy of a Hatch March	Rick Hafele	2005
American Angler Magazine Bag’em and Tag’em March/April	Rick Hafele	2008
American Angler Magazine Film School April	James Buice	2007
American Angler Magazine Levels of Nymphing September/October	Neale Streeks	2002

Originally published August 2, 2010 on Fly Anglers Online by Tom Travis. Combined from 6 parts.