Sparkle Dun Patterns
Sparkle Duns are really just adaptations of the Compara-dun pattern created by Al Caucci and Bob Nastasi in the mid 1970’s. A trailing shuck usually of Z-lon is tied in at the tail end of a Compara-dun fly to imitate a mayfly escaping from its exoskeleton during emergence.
The sparkle dun as designed is really an emerger pattern based on what it is trying to imitate. It is fished as a dry fly; however it performs best when tied with a sparse wing allowing it to ride lower in the water affixed to the surface film. This better imitates the exact scenario that many mayflies find themselves in trying to dry their wings and escape their shuck.
As with tying all Compara-duns; the most critical step is picking out the right type of deer hair for the wing. The deer hair needs to be short with black tips and not hollow or only slightly hollow. Patches of this type of quality deer hair are hard to find so be prepared to spend some time looking for it.
Adams Sparkle Dun Pattern Recipe: Hook-TMC100 size 12-22, Thread- Gray 6/0, Wing-Natural gray Compara-dun deer hair tied upright in 180 degrees fan, , Tail- Gray Z-lon, Body- Natural Muskrat fur dubbing.
Blue Winged Olive Sparkle Dun Pattern Recipe: Hook- TMC 100 size 12-22, Thread- Yellow 6/0, Wing- Mask of Deer brown-gray fibers flared upward and forward, Tail- Blue dun Z-lon, Body- Olive green Antron dubbing.
Callibaetis Sparkle Dun Pattern Recipe: Hook-TMC100 size 14-22, Thread- Olive 6/0, Wing- Blacktail deer hair tied upright in 180 degrees fan, Tail- Sparse sparkle poly yarn or Z-lon color to match body, Body- Light olive poly dubbing.
Dark Olive Sparkle Dun Pattern Recipe: Hook-TMC100 size 12-22, Thread- Olive 6/0, Wing-Natural gray Compara-dun deer hair tied upright in 180 degrees fan, , Ribbing- Fine silver wire, Tail- Olive Z-lon, Body- Dark olive Antron dubbing.
Gray Sparkle Dun Pattern Recipe: Hook-TMC100 size 12-22, Thread- Gray 6/0, Wing-Natural gray Compara-dun deer hair tied upright in 180 degrees fan, , Tail- Gray Z-lon, Body- Gray Antron dubbing.
Green Drake Sparkle Dun Pattern Recipe: Hook- TMC 100 size 10-12, Thread- Olive 6/0, Wing- Black Moose body hair tied upright in 180 degrees fan , Tail- Olive Z-lon, Body- Olive Antron dubbing.
Light Olive Sparkle Dun Pattern Recipe: Hook-TMC100 size 14-22, Thread- Olive 6/0, Wing-Natural gray Compara-dun deer hair tied upright in 180 degrees fan, Ribbing- Fine silver wire, Tail- Olive Z-lon, Body- Light olive Antron dubbing .
Mahogany Sparkle Dun Pattern Recipe: Hook-TMC100 size 12-18, Thread- Brown 6/0, Wing-Natural Brown-Tan Compara-dun deer hair tied upright in 180 degrees fan, Tail- Brown Z-lon, Body- Brown Antron dubbing.
March Brown Sparkle Dun Pattern Recipe: Hook- TMC 100 size 12-16, Thread- Tan 6/0, Wing- Natural brown Compara-dun deer hair tied upright in 180 degrees fan, Tail- Brown Z-lon, Body- Tannish brown Antron dubbing.
Pale Yellow Sparkle Dun Pattern Recipe: Hook-TMC100 size 12-22, Thread- Pale yellow 6/0, Wing-Natural Cream-Tan Compara-dun deer hair tied upright in 180 degrees fan, Tail- Golden Z-lon, Body- Pale Yellow Antron dubbing.
Tan Sparkle Dun Pattern Recipe: Hook-TMC100 size 12-22, Thread- Tan 6/0, Wing-Natural Brownish-Tan Compara-dun deer hair tied upright in 180 degrees fan, Tail- Tan Z-lon, Body- Tan-Olive Yellow Antron dubbing
Trico Sparkle Dun Pattern Recipe: Hook-TMC100 size 12-24, Thread- Black Nylon 8/0, Wing- Bleached white Compara-dun deer hair tied upright in 180 degrees fan, Tail- Olive Z-lon, Body- Black Antron dubbing.
Yellow-Olive Sparkle Dun Pattern Recipe: Hook-TMC100 size 12-22, Thread- Pale yellow 6/0, Wing-Natural Cream-Tan Compara-dun deer hair tied upright in 180 degrees fan, , Ribbing- Fine silver wire, Tail- Golden Z-lon, Body- Yellow-olive Antron dubbing