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A “Dun” is that stage of the life cycle of a Mayfly when it emerges and rests on the surface of the water or nearby vegetation whilst its wings dry. During the dun stage it is very vulnerable to passing and searching fish. If you have a look at Duns whilst the colours vary dramatically there are fundamentals of shape that are common across the species and captured by this pattern. The tail consists of only asmall amount of hackles; the body starts thin and is then cigar shaped with 9 distinct segments; the wing faces back at about a 45 degree angle and it has 6 legs. I use this fly to represent mayflies that are members of the Leptophlebiidae classification of mayflies which includes the Highland Dun and Olive Dun and also the Kosciuszko Dun which is a member of the Coloburiscidae classification of the Mayfly family.

Whilst I have tied the fly below to match in both size and colour duns that are common in the Snowy Mountains of NSW where I am based you should vary the color scheme and size to match the Dun you are seeking to match.
 

Materials

Process

A	Wind the thread in touching turns to the bend of the hook. Understanding hooks Tie in a tail about as long as the hook shank consisting of only 3 to 6 hackle fibres. Tails on flies Tie in a length of thin round tinsel.

B	Wind the hackle back to the bend of the hook with close but not touching turns. Wind the tinsel or ribbing thread  along the body to form between 7 and 9 segments. Body segments on flies Tie the tinsel or ribbing thread off and trim the excess.

C	Select a section of feather slip twice as wide as you want the finished wing to be. Fold it down the middle and trim the top at 45%. Then tie the butt end onto the hook shank in front of the body with the wing sloping back at 45 %. Take the thread forward and tie the hackle in at the 95% position . Take the thread back to just behind the wing,

D	Wind the hackle back in touching turns to the thread. Wind the thread forward through the hackle to the eye of the hook in firm turns that lock the hackle into position Build up a neat head of thread. Whip finish and trim the fly tying thread.

E	Using a blade trim the hackle.

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