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Frost Fan Cream Mayfly Dun

by @dekasso

Frost Fan Cream Mayfly Dun — a fly pattern by Dekasso
More by @dekasso

Dry fly

A spark of light on flat water

A size 14 cream mayfly dun with a pearl flash wing and speckled tail, tied for trout rising to pale mayflies.

A pale mayfly dun with a long speckled tail, a cream ribbed body and a bright upright fan of a wing. The body is cream dubbing banded with fine gold thread, and the wing is a spray of pearl Krystal Flash.

Imitates
Pale mayfly duns, typically late-spring and summer afternoons into evening
Hook
size 14
Tippet
5Xrule of three
  • Pearl flash wing stands tall and bright
  • Fine gold thread rib on cream body
  • Long speckled Coq de Leon tail
  • Size 14 dry-fly hook

On the water

A dry fly riding the surface of a trout river

A cream body, soft and fuzzy, ringed with thin gold bands. Speckled tail fibres stretch out long behind the bend. Above it all, a fan of pearl strands catches the light like frost on a window.

Fish it where trout sip quietly: glides, tailouts, the slick edges of a spring creek. Cast a touch upstream of the rise and let it drift dead, no drag. That pearl fan sits up high, so tracking it across glare is easier on tired eyes.

Krystal Flash for the wing wants a light touch. Use a small bunch, tie it in upright, then trim it to one even height so the fan reads as a single wing, not a broom.

A coiled leader, tippet spools and an open fly box on slate

Rigging

Tippet
5Xhook size divided by three
Leader
Nine feet, tapered — longer and finer in flat water
  • Rig on 5X or 6X tippet with a long, soft leader for flat water.
  • Dress the body and tail with floatant; keep it off the flash wing.
  • Aim for a drag-free drift; a slight mend upstream buys extra inches.

Where and when

Hatch
Pale mayfly duns, typically late-spring and summer afternoons into evening
Target
Brown trout, Rainbow trout
Water type
Smooth glides, spring creeks and slow pools
Also fishes
Works on lake margins during an evening dun hatch, and as a searching dry in slow riffles when pale mayflies are about.

Make it yourself

Intermediate5 materials · 9 steps

Style
Dry fly
Hook
Standard dry-fly hooksize 14
Thread
Tan 8/0
Fly-tying materials laid out on a dark bench

Materials in the order they go on the hook

  1. TailSpeckled Coq de Leon fibres
  2. RibFine gold thread
  3. BodyCream dry-fly dubbing
  4. WingPearl Krystal Flash
  5. ThoraxTan dry-fly dubbing

Details

Imitates
Pale mayfly dun
Colors
Cream, Tan, Gold, Pearl, Speckled brown
A fly-tying vise holding a bare hook on a wooden bench

How to tie it

The steps, from first wrap to whip finish (9)
  1. Mount the hook and start the tan thread behind the eye, then wrap a smooth base back to the bend.
  2. Tie in a slim bunch of Coq de Leon fibres at the bend, about one and a half hook shanks long.
  3. Tie in the fine gold thread rib at the bend on the near side.
  4. Dub a thin, slightly tapered cream body up to about two thirds of the shank.
  5. Spiral the gold rib forward in five or six evenly spaced turns and tie it off.
  6. Tie in a small bunch of pearl Krystal Flash on top, just ahead of the body, and post it upright with thread wraps in front.
  7. Trim the wing to roughly one hook shank in height, cutting it level.
  8. Dub a small tan thorax around the base of the wing, building a neat ball behind the eye.
  9. Whip finish and trim the thread.
Proportions (4)
  • Tail: about one and a half times the hook shank.
  • Body: two thirds of the shank, thin and gently tapered.
  • Wing: roughly one hook shank tall, standing upright.
  • Thorax: the front third of the shank, slightly fuller than the body.
Tips (3)
  • Wax the thread lightly so the cream dubbing goes on in a thin, tight noodle.
  • Keep the rib spacing even; count your turns before you start.
  • Pull the flash fibres to length before tying in, so the fan needs only a light trim.
Common mistakes (3)
  • Overdressed body: the fly sits low and looks heavy. Use less dubbing than feels right.
  • Wing slumping back: build a few thread turns in front of the wing to prop it upright.
  • Too many flash strands: a thick wing looks like a brush. Thin the bunch by half.
A dozen-fly materials kit laid out on slate with its recipe card.
The kit

Every kit size

Materials only

Size 14 · Materials only · 12 flies

$36.10

$3.01 a fly

Includes Standard dry-fly hook · and 8 more

Every item in this kit · 9 items

Hooks & beads

  • Standard dry-fly hook$6.501 × 25 · size 14

Thread & wire

  • Tan 8/0 thread$2.951 spool
  • Fine gold thread$3.251 spool

Materials

  • Other material: Speckled Coq de Leon fibres$4.501 pack · From the recipe row "Tail"
  • Cream dry-fly dubbing$4.501 dispenser
  • Pearl Krystal Flash$3.951 hank
  • Tan dry-fly dubbing$4.501 dispenser

Finishing

  • Head cement$5.951 bottle

Guide

  • Printed recipe and tying stepsIncluded1

Size 14 · Materials only · 48 flies

$57.05

$1.19 a fly

Bought separately $60.05 · you save $3

Includes Standard dry-fly hook · and 8 more

Every item in this kit · 9 items

Hooks & beads

  • Standard dry-fly hook$132 × 25 · size 14

Thread & wire

  • Tan 8/0 thread$2.951 spool
  • Fine gold thread$3.251 spool

Materials

  • Other material: Speckled Coq de Leon fibres$92 packs · From the recipe row "Tail"
  • Cream dry-fly dubbing$92 dispensers
  • Pearl Krystal Flash$7.902 hanks
  • Tan dry-fly dubbing$92 dispensers

Finishing

  • Head cement$5.951 bottle

Guide

  • Printed recipe and tying stepsIncluded1

Size 14 · Materials only · 144 flies

$117.79

$0.82 a fly

Bought separately $133.85 · you save $16.06

Includes Standard dry-fly hook · and 8 more

Every item in this kit · 9 items

Hooks & beads

  • Standard dry-fly hook$351 × 100 + 2 × 25 · size 14

Thread & wire

  • Tan 8/0 thread$8.853 spools
  • Fine gold thread$9.753 spools

Materials

  • Other material: Speckled Coq de Leon fibres$22.505 packs · From the recipe row "Tail"
  • Cream dry-fly dubbing$184 dispensers
  • Pearl Krystal Flash$15.804 hanks
  • Tan dry-fly dubbing$184 dispensers

Finishing

  • Head cement$5.951 bottle

Guide

  • Printed recipe and tying stepsIncluded1

With vise & tools

Size 14 · With vise & tools · 12 flies

$186.10

$15.51 a fly

Includes Standard dry-fly hook · and 17 more

Every item in this kit · 18 items

Hooks & beads

  • Standard dry-fly hook$6.501 × 25 · size 14

Thread & wire

  • Tan 8/0 thread$2.951 spool
  • Fine gold thread$3.251 spool

Materials

  • Other material: Speckled Coq de Leon fibres$4.501 pack · From the recipe row "Tail"
  • Cream dry-fly dubbing$4.501 dispenser
  • Pearl Krystal Flash$3.951 hank
  • Tan dry-fly dubbing$4.501 dispenser

Finishing

  • Head cement$5.951 bottle

Tools

  • Rotary pedestal vise$791
  • Ceramic bobbin$141
  • Fine-point scissors$161
  • Whip finisher$91
  • Hackle pliers$71
  • Bodkin$51
  • Bobbin threader$41
  • Dubbing wax$41
  • Canvas tool roll$121

Guide

  • Printed recipe and tying stepsIncluded1

Size 14 · With vise & tools · 48 flies

$199.55

$4.16 a fly

Bought separately $210.05 · you save $10.50

Includes Standard dry-fly hook · and 17 more

Every item in this kit · 18 items

Hooks & beads

  • Standard dry-fly hook$132 × 25 · size 14

Thread & wire

  • Tan 8/0 thread$2.951 spool
  • Fine gold thread$3.251 spool

Materials

  • Other material: Speckled Coq de Leon fibres$92 packs · From the recipe row "Tail"
  • Cream dry-fly dubbing$92 dispensers
  • Pearl Krystal Flash$7.902 hanks
  • Tan dry-fly dubbing$92 dispensers

Finishing

  • Head cement$5.951 bottle

Tools

  • Rotary pedestal vise$791
  • Ceramic bobbin$141
  • Fine-point scissors$161
  • Whip finisher$91
  • Hackle pliers$71
  • Bodkin$51
  • Bobbin threader$41
  • Dubbing wax$41
  • Canvas tool roll$121

Guide

  • Printed recipe and tying stepsIncluded1

Size 14 · With vise & tools · 144 flies

$249.79

$1.73 a fly

Bought separately $283.85 · you save $34.06

Includes Standard dry-fly hook · and 17 more

Every item in this kit · 18 items

Hooks & beads

  • Standard dry-fly hook$351 × 100 + 2 × 25 · size 14

Thread & wire

  • Tan 8/0 thread$8.853 spools
  • Fine gold thread$9.753 spools

Materials

  • Other material: Speckled Coq de Leon fibres$22.505 packs · From the recipe row "Tail"
  • Cream dry-fly dubbing$184 dispensers
  • Pearl Krystal Flash$15.804 hanks
  • Tan dry-fly dubbing$184 dispensers

Finishing

  • Head cement$5.951 bottle

Tools

  • Rotary pedestal vise$791
  • Ceramic bobbin$141
  • Fine-point scissors$161
  • Whip finisher$91
  • Hackle pliers$71
  • Bodkin$51
  • Bobbin threader$41
  • Dubbing wax$41
  • Canvas tool roll$121

Guide

  • Printed recipe and tying stepsIncluded1

The creator

An illustrated portrait for Dekasso (an illustration, not a photograph)

Dekasso

@dekasso

Wherever the truck rolls to a stop.

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See everything by @dekasso

How it was made

3 iterations led here; the saved one is marked

  1. Iteration 1 of 31
  2. Iteration 2 of 32
  3. Iteration 3 of 33 Saved

Remixes

7 steps back

  1. Slate Ledge Grizzly Soft Hackle@dekasso · the original
  2. Grizzly Half Hackle Mayfly Dun@dekasso
  3. Evening Ember Sulphur Mayfly Dun@dekasso
  4. Thistledown CDC Olive Mayfly Dun@dekasso
  5. Bluebird Olive CDC Dun@dekasso
  6. Lemon Olive Sparkle Dun@dekasso
  7. Lemon Fade Olive Sparkle Dun — a fly pattern by DekassoLemon Fade Olive Sparkle Dun@dekasso
  8. Frost Fan Cream Mayfly Dunyou are here

No remixes yet — make your own version.

Where this came from

“make the rib a thinner material and it shouldn't be wire it should be thread or tinsel”

fly pattern · made

0 — nothing entered the score yet, at the Derby's published weights, since . Views are not counted.

  • mayfly
  • dun
  • dry fly
  • cream
  • pearl wing
  • coq de leon
  • trout
  • size 14
  • spring creek
  • pale mayfly