When fishing clean, clear, relatively still waters with a dry fly, the
challenge is often in throwing a visible fly without creating too much
commotion.
Enter Andy Burk, one of the world’s
most creative and accomplished modern fly tyers. Burk designed his
Silhouette Dun series with a slim and trim profile that sits neatly on
the surface of the water with very little disturbance on landing. The
bug’s prominent wing post allows it to be seen easily from a distance.
Burk’s
Silhouette Dun -
Baetis or Blue Winged Olive is a fantastic mayfly dun
imitation tied to represent the
Baetis or Blue Winged Olive in its
winged adult stage. Its split tails and tapered quill body make it an
extremely attractive fly pattern while the sturdy dubbing through the
thorax allow it to stand up to the toughest of trout.
Specifications:
- This fly pattern was developed by Andy Burk, one of the world’s most successful modern fly tyers
- The Silhouette Dun is a dry fly designed to maintain a realistic and trim profile, but remain highly visible in the water
- This pattern is also very durable and can stand up to the most demanding trout
- Baetis or Blue Winged Olive imitation in the adult life stage
- Use as either an impressionistic searching fly or as a realistic imitation when matching the hatch
- Hatches throughout North America occur throughout the year, but are most prolific during December and January
- Fish on a dead drift in medium to slow water adjacent to or below faster flows
- When targeting fish during a prolific hatch, cast upstream and drift through the main current
- Be sure to use lighter terminal tackle when fishing slower eddys and pools
- Cooler, overcast days can produce some of the best hatches of Baetis or Blue Winged Olive mayfly duns
- SIZE 18
When and Where to Fish Burk’s Silhouette Dun - Baetis or Blue Winged Olive
This
mayfly dun can be fished as either an impressionistic fly pattern when
searching for trout or as a realistic imitation when matching the
hatch. When searching, fish this fly below faster riffles, current
seams, and even in slower flows adjacent to higher energy spots. Fish
this fly pattern throughout the morning and afternoon hours and even
into the evening hours. These olive and brown duns are available
throughout North American trout waters nearly any month of the year,
but their sporadic hatches are most common on overcast afternoons in
January and December. These duns will often ride along the water’s
surface for considerable distances before fluttering away to streamside
vegetation. Look for these classic mayflies as they ride along the
surface of the main drift. These adults will collect in the calmer
water adjacent to higher energy environments. Eddys and slow pools
below longer vegetation rich runs can also be great places to spot
hatched adults.
How to Fish Burk’s Silhouette Dun - Baetis or Blue Winged Olive
If
there are a good number of Baetis or Blue Winged Olive nymphs with dark
wing pads present, look for a solid hatch to begin at any time during
the day, especially if weather conditions are overcast and cool. When a
hatch is on, these early season mayflies will float for long distances
downstream before flittering off to find mates. Trout will generally
not follow these tiny morsels, rather they will wait until the hatched
duns reach slower water before striking. Trout can also be extremely
selective during a particularly strong hatch of adults, so be sure to
examine how and where trout are rising and aim your dead drift toward
these hot areas. If you find good feeding action in slower water like
eddys below rougher water and longer runs, be sure to use longer
leaders and lighter tippet and use a good stalking method in order to
avoid spooking the target fish. Cast upstream using a reach cast or
mend to produce a slow dead drift.
Baetis
Baetis
are olive colored mayflies that occur in trout water throughout North
America. The wide distribution of this common swimming nymph makes it
an important year-round staple in a trout’s diet. During the larval
stage, Baetis thrive in the well-oxygenated water of medium to fast
riffles and longer runs. Baetis follows the life stages of a typical
mayfly life cycle and hatches year-round with more intense emergences
occurring warmer months. Baetis is quite similar in appearance to the
Blue Winged Olive (Drunella), a genus of mayfly common to the trout
waters of northeastern North America. This similarity often causes
confusion, but in angling practice, these bugs are fantastic
substitutes for one another and their imitations are often considered
interchangeable for fishing purposes.
Baetis Adult Life Stage
During
its nymph life stage, these strong swimmers are commonly found in many
different types of water. The most prolific populations tend to occur
in well-oxygenated water; look for them in riffles and longer runs.
Because their swimming ability is well-developed, these nymphs will
commonly expose themselves by making adventurous trips away from safety
just before emergence and subsequent hatching, making an emergent
Baetis an important meal for hungry trout. Baetis adults will not spend
lots of time on the surface once hatched unless the temperature is
cooler, making overcast winter and spring days prime time for anglers
looking to hook trout on Baetis fly patterns. These light brown or
olive mayfly duns are slender and have two long dark tails. Their wings
have a shiny appearance and once hatched, these bugs will flutter away
to nearby foliage to seek out mates. These duns are relatively small,
though, and trout will not expend much energy when feeding on them.
Subsequently, it’s imperative that an angler deliver an adult Baetis to
the targeted fish as efficiently and effectively as possible.
Blue Winged Olive
The
blue winged olive (Drunella) is a genus of mayfly commonly active in
northeastern North America’s trout waters from early spring (May)
through the late summer months (August and early September). At a time
when caddis hatches are prolific and the mayflies of spring and summer
are gone, the blue winged olive offers fly anglers a fantastic
late-season chance at fishing a classic mayfly hatch. These insects
typically hatch in warmer waters during mid day. The blue winged olive
is a crawling nymph that ranges from dark brown to olive in color and
is often likened with Baeits, a popular staple of the western trout’s
diet.
Blue Winged Olive Adult Life Stage
During
its nymph life stage, the blue winged olive (Drunella), a stout
crawling nymph, can be found in medium to fast riffles and pockets in
the northeastern trout water of North America. These nymphs are most
vulnerable just prior to emergence as they are caught in the moving
water as they float to the surface to hatch. Once hatched, Blue Winged
Olive duns are often quite vulnerable to feeding trout as they float
through the main drift and collect in slower water downstream from
faster riffles and runs. Blue winged olive adults are most active
during the afternoon hours, and the best hatches generally occur in
warmer waters from early spring (May) to the late summer months (August
and September).
About the Tyer: Andy Burk
Andy
Burk has been fly fishing all his life and loves to share his
experience, ideas, creativity, and techniques with anyone who’ll
listen. He’s a tremendously successful angler who has a big personality
and lots of fun wherever he is. A well-known professional fly designer
for Umpqua Feather Merchants, Andy has developed a cult following among
fly tyers by willingly sharing many of his best secrets at traveling
fly tying shows and in-shop demonstrations. Andy has recently begun to
reach many others by using 21st Century technology to his advantage.
Thanks to Andy and You Tube, Internet-savvy fly tyers and fly anglers
from all corners of the globe can now bring his fly tying tips into
their living rooms and offices. Andy continues to develop new ideas
from his home in Reno, Nevada, and is will continue to be an asset to
the fly fishing industry for decades to come.
Leland on Umpqua
In
1972 a man named Dennis Black and his fly tying skills found themselves
in high demand. Mr. Black, then a professional production fly tyer, was
famous in the industry for his unsurpassed skill and speed with
whipping up tremendously beautiful and precisely constructed flies. It
wasn’t long until this young fly tying superstar realized that he ought
to take his consistent approach to quality to the next level. Shortly
after this realization, a small army of fly tyers had banded together
to support Mr. Black’s vision. With the likes of Dave Whitlock, Jack
Dennis, and Andy Puyans, Mr. Black was officially in business.
Dennis
Black’s new company Umpqua Feather Merchants quickly extended its reach
and fly production capabilities with expansion into India, Sri Lanka,
and Thailand, where the world’s first and full blown “fly tying
factories” were built. Since those early days, only the highest
standard of excellence has marked Umpqua and this commitment to quality
and efficiency continues to spur the company forward. Dennis Black’s
innovative vision for “fly production” has truly revolutionized how the
fly industry operates and has ultimately made the majority of
production flies better. From the first “royalty system” for rewarding
the most creative professional fly tyers to streamlining production
systems and offering a range of other products, Umpqua Feather
Merchants just seems to “do it all.”
Today, Umpqua Feather
Merchants is without a doubt the world’s best and most prolific
supplier of hand tied fly fishing flies as well as fly tying hooks and
materials, and they recently got better! Umpqua’s brand new, state of
the art headquarters in Louisville, Colorado marks another paradigm
shift in the way fly tying business is done. From its vast warehouse to
its specially designed inventory management and tracking system, Umpqua
is poised to continue its energetic trajectory and lead the way for the
next generation of flies and fly tyers.
Umpqua on Umpqua
"As
you may or may not know, we're the largest producer of quality
hand-tied flies in the world. We also make available through your local
fly shop a wide array of the finest fly-tying hackle and Tiemco hooks.
At
Umpqua we offer everything the angler needs to a have a first class
fishing experience. (Everything that is, but the water and the fish.)"
Umpqua on Dennis Black and the “Obvious Quest”
“The
idea first took shape in the hands of our founder, Dennis Black, back
in 1972. As a fast and facile professional fly tyer, Dennis was known
for his skill and speed at producing hundreds of dozens of flies each
year for the larger mail order houses. But he was also quick to realize
how fast the demand for excellent flies would outstrip the abilities of
cottage industry types like him.
The Obvious Quest: To create
excellent flies in sufficient supply – without sinking his standards.
In response, Dennis developed (with characteristic care) a methodical
plan: First, he enlisted the tying expertise of the likes of Dave
Whitlock, Jack Dennis, Andy Puyans and others, to help him set the
standard of excellence for Umpqua flies.
Next, Dennis
established the first of what would eventually be five separate
fly-tying “factories,” first in India, then in Sri Lanka, and finally
in Thailand. The primary focus at each of these factories was on
producing the very best fishing flies possible, constructed of the very
best materials available. From the beginning, the quantity of flies
produced was secondary to the quality and excellence of each fly
pattern. These high standards were assured by the personal involvement
of the fly designers themselves, and by the ever-increasing skill,
imagination and creativity of the Umpqua production fly tiers. Today,
you will find no flies more skillfully tied than those available from
Umpqua Feather Merchants.
Finally, Dennis created a system of
royalty payments, to reward professional tyers like Whitlock, Lefty
Kreh, Randall Kaufman, Larry Dahlberg, and Bob Popovics for uniquely
good patterns.
The Result: Today, Umpqua produces umpteen
thousand dozen flies, from micro-scopic midge imitations to the huge
patterns favored by marlin and sailfish. And the "Umpquality" – you’ll
see for yourself.”
