Compara-dun Patterns
Compara-duns represent a departure from the standard dry fly pattern formula due to the absence of a hackle collar. With a wing of fine black tipped deer hair riding vertically straight up they cast an excellent mayfly silhouette, float well and best of all they are easy to tie. They often work when traditional dry fly patterns do not especially on selectively feeding trout. Most mayfly dun patterns can be tied as a Compara-dun.
In many of the recipes for tying Compara-duns you will find hook sizes going all the way down to a size 22. It would be difficult to tie then smaller than that due to the thickness of the deer hair used in constructing wing. Small size Compara-duns seem to be even more effective than patterns tied on larger hook sizes which is why you will rarely find a recipe calling for a hook larger than a size 12. Regardless of the hook size the use of a hair stacker is just about a must for tying a good Compara-dun fly.
Compara-duns are without exception one of the most effective ways to tie a pattern that imitates a mayfly dun. This style of tying a mayfly was introduced by Al Caucci and Bob Nastasi in their book Hatches, first published in 1975. This pattern style can also be tied as an emerger pattern with the addition of a trailing shuck.
Adams Compara-dun Pattern Recipe: Hook- TMC 100 size 12-18, Thread- Gray 6/0, Wing- Natural dun deer hair, Tail- Grizzly hackle barbs split, Body- Natural Muskrat fur dubbing, Hackle- None.
Blue Winged Olive Comparadun Pattern Recipe: Hook- TMC 100 size 12-22, Thread- Yellow 6/0, Wing- Mask of Deer brown-gray fibers flared upward and forward, Body- Olive green floss, Tail- Blue dun hackle barbs.
Dark Olive Compara-dun Pattern Recipe: Hook- TMC 100 size 12-22, Thread- Olive 6/0, Wing- Natural deer hair, , Tail- Blue dun hackle barbs split, Body- Dark Olive Antron dubbing, Hackle- None.
Gray Compara-dun Pattern Recipe: Hook- TMC 100 size 12-20, Thread- Gray 6/0, Wing- Natural gray deer hair, Tail- Blue dun hackle barbs split, Body- Natural muskrat fur dubbing, Hackle- None.
Green Drake Compara-dun Pattern Recipe: Hook- TMC 100 size 10-14, Thread- Olive 6/0, Wing- Black Moose body hair, Tail- Olive dyed Grizzly hackle barbs split, Body- Olive dyed natural fur or Antron dubbing, Hackle- None.
Light Olive Compara-dun Pattern Recipe: Hook- TMC 100 size 12-22, Thread- Olive 6/0, Wing- Natural deer hair, , Tail- Blue dun hackle barbs split, Body- Light Olive Antron dubbing, Hackle- None.
March Brown Compara-dun Pattern Recipe: Hook- TMC 100 size 12-18, Thread- Tan 6/0, Wing- Natural brown deer hair, Tail- Brown hackle barbs split, Body- Tannish brown Antron dubbing, Hackle- None.
Pale Morning Compara-dun Pattern Recipe: Hook- TMC 100 size 12-20, Thread- Pale yellow 6/0, Wing- Natural cream colored or dyed cream deer hair, Tail- Ginger hackle barbs split, Body- Pale Yellow Olive Antron dubbing, Hackle- None.
Pale Olive Compara-dun Pattern Recipe: Hook- TMC 100 size 12-22, Thread- Olive 6/0, Wing- Natural deer hair, , Tail- Blue dun hackle barbs split, Body- Light Olive Antron dubbing, Hackle- None.
Trico Compara-dun Pattern Recipe: Hook- TMC 100 size 18-24, Thread- Black 6/0, Wing- Bleached deer hair, , Tail- Grizzly hackle barbs split, Body- Black Antron dubbing, Hackle- None.