Wonder tail dun or spinner

 

The Wonder Tail  Dun or Spinner is a generic representation for members of the “Leptophlebiidae” family of Mayflies and particularly useful for the various Highland Duns & Spinners, which are members of the “Oniscigastridae” genus. Hatches generally occurs between the months of October and March.

This wonder wing concept is accredited to Sydney dentist Dick Deakin and can also be applied to the wonder wing.

Materials

Hook Thread Tail Hackle
Dry fly To suit hackle Over-sized cock hackle Cock hackle

Process

A
  1. Wind the thread form the 95% position to the bend of the hook.
  2. Select a feather that is symmetrical but has barbules around twice the gape of the hook.
  3. With the dull side of the feather facing up stroke the barbules part way down the hackle toward the butt of the quill.
  4. Whilst holding the barbules in place along the side of the quill lock the quill and the hackle into place just a little forward of the bend of the hook.

B
  1. If you have done this step correctly i.e. with the dull side of the feather up then you can expect the tail to slope up gently.

C
  1. With a sharp pair of scissors trim a V out of the hackle just 4 or 5 barbules above where the hackles were pulled down along the side of the quill.

D
  1. Build up a neat body of thread on the half of the hook shank.
  2. Tie the hackle in at the half way mark. Make sure that the dull side (i.e. the underside of the feather) is facing toward you so that as it is wound forward the barbules will slope slightly forward.

E
  1. Wind the hackle forward in touching turns to just behind the eye of the hook.
  2. Tie the hackle off with a couple of firm wraps of thread.
  3. Trim the butt of the hackle off with a blade.
  4. Build up a neat thread head.
  5. Whip finish and varnish the head.



Last Updated: April 26, 2011
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Categories: Dry flies, Flies
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