Sparkle Dun – Sulphur
John Juracek and I started tying the Sparkle Dun in the early 1980’s as a Pale Morning Dun imitation for the selective trout on the Henry’s Fork. The PMD emergences on this river are legendary, and to consistently fool the big rainbows we needed a better fly than was available at that time. We wanted a fly that was more durable and longer floating than the popular no-hackle pattern, and was a better imitation of an emerger/impaired-stillborn dun than the Comparadun style of fly. After a bit of trial and error, we and our fly tiers at Blue Ribbon Flies came up with the Sparkle Dun, a simple but clean combination of zelon, deer hair and dubbing that gave the fly the silhouette and floating qualities we wanted. We soon discovered the new fly worked remarkably well. The Henry’s Fork trout respond strongly to this pattern, especially during early morning emergences.
Key Features
| Component | Material |
|---|---|
| Zelon | Primary body material |
| Deer Hair | For natural movement and texture |
| Dubbing | For color and durability |
FAQ
What type of trout does the Sparkle Dun imitate?
The Sparkle Dun imitates the Pale Morning Dun emerger, specifically targeting selective trout on the Henry’s Fork.
Is the Sparkle Dun suitable for early morning fishing?
Yes, it is particularly effective during early morning emergences when Pale Morning Dun patterns are active.
What materials are used in the Sparkle Dun construction?
The Sparkle Dun is constructed using zelon, deer hair, and dubbing to achieve a natural silhouette and long floating action.
Ian Ferguson –
Fished the Sparkle Dun on the Henry’s Fork during a spring morning and saw several big rainbows take it. The fly floated well and stayed on the water longer than expected. The zelon and deer hair combination gave it a natural look that matched the emerger pattern perfectly.
Wanda Sanderson –
Used this fly on a cold spring day and it held up well in the current. The floating action is smooth and it didn’t sink quickly. Trout were responsive, especially during the early hours.
Benjamin Lewis –
This is one of the most accurate imitations of the Pale Morning Dun I’ve used. The way it moves in the water and the color match made a big difference in catching fish.