Best Pale Morning Dun and Pale Evening Dun Fly Patterns
Hi-Vis RustyPMD Spinner
This fly isn’t much fun to tie, but when you get it to the water, you’ll know why you spent the time. The CDC wings provide an excellent imitation of a spinners wings on the water, while the grizzly hackle adds some floatation.The Spinner phase of the Pale Morning Dun and Pale Evening Dun is an often overlooked stage of the hatch. This Hi-Viz Spinner has proven very effective, and easily seen. Dry Magic, Fly-Agra or Loon Lochsa are the preferred Floatants for CDC .
Fly Tying Material List
- Hook: Standard Dry Fly Hook Size 14-18
- Thread: Brown 70D Danville Flymaster
- Wing Post: Orange Antron
- Egg Sac: Yellow Dubbing
- Tail: Coq De Leon, split around Egg Sac
- Body: Rusty dyed Turkey Biot
- Underwing: Two CDC Feathers, Spent
- Dubbing: Rusty
- Hackle: Grizzly tied parachute, clipped front and back
PMD Cripple
This is just one of the variations of Quigley’s amazing cripple style. The antron tail mimics the shuck, while the elk hair mimics the unsuccessfuly deployed wing. If you use a lop knot to tie this fly to your leader, and only apply floatant to the hackle and elk wing, you’ll find the rear of this fly sinking, adding to it’s effectiveness,
Fly Tying Material List
- Hook: Standard Dry Fly Hook Size 14-18
- Thread: Pale Yellow 70D Danville Flymaster
- Tail: Brown Antron Fibers
- Abdomen: Brown Antron wrapped
- Thorax: Pale Yellow Dubbing
- Wingcase/Wing: Natural Elk Body hair
- Hackle: Pale Watery Dun
Tilt Wing PMD
The Tilt Wing Dun brings a realistic silhouette to the adult PMD. The sparkle body helps the trout identify your fly out of the crowd, while the mixed hackle provides excellent coloring. When the trout are looking for a fly with double colored body, the Tiltwing PMD provides that.
Fly Tying Material List
- Hook: Standard Dry Fly Size 14-18
- Thread: Pale Yellow 12/0 Benecchi Thread
- Tail: Moose Body Hair, split
- Body: Copper/Brown Flash Dubbing, thin
- Thorax: Pale Olive/Yellow Dubbing
- Wing: Elk Body Hair, tied tips back with butts extending upwards. Cut butts after wrapping hackle
- Hackle: Mixed Yellow dyed Grizzly and Light Dun
Parachute PMD
This classic fly still takes trout when they’re on the adults. The parachute floats low in the water, and the parachute keeps it upright and floating. While it may be a bit old school, it’s still effective when the PMD’s are hatching.
Fly Tying Material List
- Hook: Standard Dry Fly
- Thread: 12/0 Pale Yellow Benecchi
- Post: Pale Gray Parapost
- Tail: Light Dun
- Body: Pale Olive/Yellow Dubbing
- Hackle: Light Dun
Brooks Sprout PMD
This Klinkhamer variation is one of our most effective PMD fly patterns. The foam post helps float the fly, while the submerged Abdomen is a trigger to the trout, saying this fly can’t get away. When you apply floatant, only gink the hackle and post. The only downside is its visibility, so just strike at any rise close to your fly. It’s probably a fish taking the Sprout.
Fly Tying Material List
- Hook: 1XS, 1XF Scud Hook
- Thread: Pale Yellow 12/0 Benecchi Thread
- Wing Post: 1/8” White Foam Cylinder
- Tail: Brown Antron
- Abdomen: Brown Quill Body
- Dubbing: Pale Yellow/Olive Dubbing
- Hackle: Light Dun
PMD Film Critic
The Film Critic almost makes fishing emergers fun! Tied in the paraloops style, the hackle provides a completely different silhouette. But it’s the high post that makes this fly so easy to use. As the Abdomen submerges, the post remains visible, allowing the angler to follow a mostly submerged fly.
Fly Tying Material List
- Hook: 1XS, 1XF Curved Scud Hook Size 14-18
- Thread: Pale Yellow
- Tail: Brown Antron Flanked with Two Black Hackle Fibers
- Rib: Fine Copper Wire
- Abdomen: Brown Antron wrapped
- Wing: Gray Antron, very short
- Hackle Post: 3X Monofilament
- Hackle: Ginger
- Post: Pale Gray Antron, extended, with Black Magic Marker at tip
- Thorax: Pale Yellow Dubbing
G Kes
The G Kes has proven to be one of the Missoulain Angler Fly Shops most effective flies. Not only is it an excellent PMD nymph, it’s also a strong tan caddis pupa and Yellow Sally nymph as well. About the only mistake you can make with this fly in late June and July is not fish it!
Fly Tying Material List
- Hook: Fulling Mills FM50 45 Size 12-18
- Bead: Gold Slotted Tungsten Bead sized to hook
- Tail: Coq De Leon Medium Pardo
- Tag: Fluorescent Orange UTC 140 Thread
- Body: tan 3/0 Uni Thread (210D)
- Overbody: Veevus Body Quill BQ13.
- Entire body coated with epoxy or UV Resin
Racing Gold UV Perdigon Jig
This perdigon style nymph sinks like a stone, and has enough flash to differentiate it from the naturals. From a tying perspective, you want to use UV Resin on this fly, as epoxy will run off the bead as you try to cover the hotspot. Simple to tie, easy to fish, the Racing Gold gets to where the fish are.
Fly Tying Material List
- Hook: Fulling Mill FM 50 45 Size 14-16
- Bead: Gold Slotted Tungsten Bead sized to hook
- Thread: Pale Yellow UTC 140
- Tail: Coq De Leon Light Pardo
- Rib: 1/69th Inch Hends Pearlescent Mylar Tinsel
- Hot Spot: Black Nail Polish or UV Resin on Bead. Coat entire fly with UV Resin
Additional Pale Morning Dun Resources
Missoula Montana Guided Fly Fishing Trip
Come enjoy a day on the river with Missoula’s best fly fishing guides. We float the Bitterroot River, Blackfoot River and the Clark Fork River. All gear, lunch and transportation provided.
