Library · Flies
IllustrationIron Blue Dun
Dry#16–20dark claret / blue dunBest: Mar–May, Sep–Oct
When to use
The bad-day dry: iron blues hatch in raw spring and autumn weather, and trout take them with unusual confidence — a rise on a cold, squally April day is very often to an iron blue. Fish it small (18 first), upstream, dead-drift. Its wet-fly twin is the Snipe & Purple — swap to the spider team if the surface takes stop.
Imitates
The iron blue — the small, dark upwing that hatches on the cold, blustery days when nothing else moves.
Team position
Single fly, upstream.
Best methods
Dead-driftDry, static
Dressing
- Hook
- dry fly, #16-20
- Thread
- claret
- Tail
- blue dun cock fibres
- Body
- mole or dark claret dubbing, slim
- Hackle
- dark blue dun cock, sparse
- Wing
- dark blue dun hackle or CDC
Dark, slim and small is the whole pattern.
Pairs with
Retrieve & line
- Fished dry and static — floating line
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