Last week I talked about how much I enjoy fall fly fishing. It’s been great this year! What I wanted to share this week is how effective one fly has been for me…a Green Drake Sparkle Dun. Yes, Fall and a dry fly just go together.

Baby Rainbow Trout Eating Big Fly | www.johnkreft.com

Even the smaller fish eat this bug! It amazes me how a small trout rises to a larger fly. This is a #12 fly a 6″ fish ate.

And bigger fish eat them too.

Fall Metolius Rainbow | www.johnkreft.com

I’ll probably kick myself for sharing this tip, but here is the fly, or should I say 2 dozen of THE FLY.

Green Drake Sparkle Dun on Deer Hair | www.johnkreft.com

Nothing special. Just a my take of the Blue Ribbon Flies Sparkle Dun I use to imitate a Green Drake.

Metolius River Green Drake | www.johnkreft.com

I’ve tied perhaps a couple hundred flies with this piece of deer hair I purchased at Blue Ribbon Flies in West Yellowstone, MT. I always stop at BRF when I’m around Yellowstone National Park to hand select the deer hair I use to tie Sparkle Duns.

I love this fly. In fact, it’s been my go-to fly recently. Funny how I get confidence in a particular fly and it seems to continue catching fish. 

I tie and fish Sparkle Duns to imitate every mayfly, from the small Blue Wing Olives, to Pale Morning Duns, March Browns, and of course Green Drakes. 

So if I were you, I’d find a few Sparkle Duns at your local fly shop and give them a try the next time you see a mayfly hatch. If you can’t find them locally, contact me and I’ll be happy to tie you some. Just use the comment box below.

And since it’s Fall, there are beautiful things to see. Here are a few pictures of what I’ve seen along the river lately.

Fall Leaves on the Metolius | www.johnkreft.com

How about a Bull Trout “hiding” under a log…can’t see me!

Bull Trout Hiding | www.johnkreft.com

Lastly, my wife attaching a fly…I wonder which one?

Fall Colors on the River | www.johnkreft.com

Enjoy…go fish!

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2 Comments

  1. John, nice ties of those SD’s! I notice from your photos that yours has a light body with dark ribbing, and the natural has the opposite. Have you tried tying them to match the natural or have you always gone with this color scheme?

    1. Thanks for the comment Tim.

      I’m always changing colors trying to “match the hatch.” We have a theory that the older the flies are, the darker they become…hence the lighter color Sparkle Dun.

      But who really know?

      John

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