The Rusty Dun is your classic parachute mayfly profile in the colour of our darker Australian mayfly and terrestrial insects. This is a perfect generalist fly for searching up a river. The slim profile and natural colour of the fly can represent a wide range of insects on our rivers. It has the added benefit of a hi-vis orange post to help you see your fly in even the most turbulent water. This fly is particularly successful late afternoon before and during an evening rise to mayfly. It can even double as an orange spinner pattern if needed and is also an option for lakes.

We tied the CDC version mainly but also the parachute version.

size 14 Dry Fly hook
Black (any colour) thread
Coq de Leon tail (substitute – any hackle)
Any sort of Rusty Dubbing
Glow bright for indicator
CDC – Natural or Brown (or any other colour)


From Tom Jarman’s excellent new series of “Tying and Fishing”  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g48v_RDAau8&t=7s

Some examples from the night.

Keywords dryfly