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Fly Tying the Compara-dun Dry Fly

Step-by-step instructions on how to tie a classic and useful mayfly dry.

Fly Tying the Compara-dun Dry Fly

Compara-dun materials/recipe:

HOOK: TMC 100SP-BL #12-20
THREAD: GSP 50 or 8/0
TAIL: Microfibetts, split
ABDOMEN: Superfine Dubbing
WING: Deer Hock
THORAX: Superfine Dubbing

Step-by-step instructions for the Compara-dun

Step 1

Start the thread at the 80 percent point and wrap back over the tag end of the thread to the bend. Leave the tag end of the thread hanging on the top of the hook at the bend.

Step 2

Tie in four Microfibetts that are about a shank length long at the bend of the hook.

Step 3

Pull the tag end of the thread up between the tails, dividing them two to a side. Tie the tag end of the thread down and clip the excess tag and the butt ends of the tails.

Step 4

Dub a tapered abdomen from the base of the tail to the 80 percent point.

Step 5

Cut, clean and stack a clump of deer hock hair. Measure it against the hook so it is a shank length long.

Step 6

Place the measured clump of hair on the top of the hook at the front of the abdomen and tie it down with two firm wraps of thread. These thread wraps should flare the hair as shown.

Step 7

Clip the butt ends of the hair as close to the shank as possible.

Step 8

Lift the hair above the hook and build a small thread dam to hold the hair upright.

Step 9

Dub the thorax from the hook eye up to the base of the wing and back again. Whip finish and clip the thread.

Step 10

Preen the wing into a 180 degree fan across the top of the fly.

Comparadun

Recipe: Hook: TMC 100SP-BL #12-20 Thread: GSP 50 or 8/0 Tail: Microfibetts, split Abdomen: Superfine Dubbing Wing: Deer Hock Thorax: Superfine Dubbing




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