Upside Down Dun 1

Fly: Ian Forbes, Photograph: Hans Weilenmann

Hook: Dry fly hook, size to match natural
Thread: Color to match thorax
Tail: Hackle fibers
Body: Dubbing that suits the natural, or goose biot, Usually olive, tan, grey or yellow
Wing/Hackle: The hackle in effect represents the wing and should be the same colour as the wing of the natural insect. Very often this is grey dun, grizzly, tan or lemon
Tying notes: This style of tying makes the fly land upside down and float on the surface rather than in it. After the abdomen is tied a short dubbing loop is tied in right at the thorax and just before the hackle is tied on. The dubbing loop is twisted, but not wound on. It is held in place with a twist-tie fastened to the vise. Wind on the hackle in the normal fashion, but leave more room than normal near the eye of the hook. Then, the final stage is bringing the dubbing loop over and through the hackle, brought around the hook in front of the hackle and back through the hackle again. Then it is brought around the hook behind the hackle and crossed over through the hackle again. Tie off at the eye of the hook and trim any stray hackle fibers that are out of place. If tied properly all the hackle fibers should be on one side of the hook.


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© 2004 Hans Weilenmann
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