The Paradun

 

Tying the Paradun

 

When the fish start to take duns from the surface, there are times when you have to use a dedicated pattern - they will often turn and refuse an emerger under these circumstances. The important factor here is size and footprint. The paradun sits well on the surface, tails splayed helping stability and footprint in equal measures. The post-wing helps to suggest the upright wing of the dun. This is a superb pattern, and the tutorial I have given here is just the blue-print for any fully emerged upwing: change colour and size to suit the natural.

 

Large Dark Olive Dun

Baetis Rhodani, Sub Imago

 

For this tutorial I have used:

 

Hook: Partridge SLD #16

Thread: Sheer, 14/0

Tails: Coq de Leon

Abdomen: Orvis Spectrablend, light olive

Wing post: Funky Fibre, grey

Thorax: Grey squirrel

Hackle: Silver Badger

 

 

The Coq de Leon fibres offer a superb impression of the tails of a fully emerged dun:

 

 

Aim for a slim and tapered body. Avoid any bulk within the fly - you want your fly to behave very naturally; those naturals are delicate specimens.

 

 

 

Tie the paraduns in a number of different shades. Does colour make a difference? Well that's a tricky questions and will be debated forever when it comes to dries. However, I am certain that in particular light conditions, colour will play a part. Either way, it cannot harm to try and get it right!

 

 

 

 

You can easily use microfibbets for tails in place if Coq de Leon. I carry examples tied with both:

 

 

You can see the method I use for tying microfibbet tails if you click the here:

 

Tying microfibbet dun tails

 

 

 

 

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Cast on the thread and wind half way down the hank of the hook

 

 

Catch in the Coq de Leon fibres. I like to pass a thread wrap under the tails to help them to splay.

 

If you'd rather use microbibbets, click to see the technique I use:

Tying with Microfibbets

 

 

Trap the butts of the tails fibres down along the top of the hook

 

Dub the thread and wind from the thorax back towards the tails. You are aiming for a neat, tapered body.

 

Aim for the thread to finish next to the tails.

 

Now wind the thread in open wraps through the dubbed body to create a rib. Try spinning the thread into a rope before winding.

 

Also using marker pens, or even wax, to colour the thread can give a more prominent rib.

 

Your thread should finish at the thorax.

 

 

Pick up the thread with the wing post material and place it on top of the hook.

 

Holding both ends, twist it clockwise through 90 degrees. It should look like a 'spent' wing.

 

Pull both wings downwards to meet under the hook...

 

... and then hold both ends together and swing the wing up to the top of the hook.

 

Secure with a few wraps of thread either side of the post.

 

 

Now dub the thread and wind a small, spikey thorax around the base of the post. Fill in the gap behind the eye with the dubbing too.

 

Catch in the hackle feather around the post

 

Wind the hackle around the post ensuring that each wrap is below the previous one.

 

Whip finishing under the hackle is my perfererence. You could whip finish behind the eye if you prefer.

 

Trim the hackle tip and stem.

 

The paradun is finished.