When he created his now famous Sparkle
Dun, Craig Mathews’ decided he’d put some sparkle in the genealogy of a
large attractor fly pattern introduced by Al Caucci and Bob Nastasi in
their 1972 fly tying manual “Comparahatch.” Caucci and Nastasi’s fly
pattern, called “The Comparadun,” was a modernized variation of “The
Haystack,” a relatively simple fly constructed primarily of deer hair.
Mathews added a Z-lon “shuck” to an
already tweaked fly and forever left his mark on the angler’s craft and
on successful fly fishing.
Mathews’ Sparkle Dun Mahogany is
hand tied by the professional production tyers at Umpqua Feather
Merchants to imitate an adult Mahogany mayfly. Try
this fantastic fly pattern out next time you’re out west and in the
midst of a frenzy of Mahogany duns.
Specifications:
- This fly pattern was developed by Craig Mathews, one of the world’s leading experts on fly fishing the greater Yellowstone area in the western United States
- The Sparkle Dun has its roots in two older flies: The Haystack and The Comparadun
- Trailing Z-lon shuck adds extra realism
- Mahogany mayfly imitation in the adult life stage
- Fish as a either an impressionistic fly pattern when searching or as a realistic imitation when matching the hatch
- Fish on a dead drift in slower water as emerging and adult mahogany mayflies favor medium to slow currents
- Look for sheltered areas with lots of subsurface vegetation and fish with an upstream presentation, mending line for a dragless dead drift
- Mahogany mayflies hatch from early morning through mid-afternoon and evening hours in relatively unpredictable bursts of activity
- When targeting fish during a prolific hatch, aim for specific rises and take great care not to disturb feeding fish
- Use light terminal tackle and a standard dry fly presentation for best results
- SIZE 16
When and Where to Fish Mathews’ Sparkle Dun Mahogany
This
adult mayfly can be fished either as an impressionistic fly imitation
or as a realistic imitation when matching the hatch. Fish this fly in
medium to slow water from early morning through the evening hours –
mahogany mayflies are active from sunrise to sunset in somewhat
unpredictable spurts. Upon emergence, mahogany mayflies use their
rather clumsy swimming skills to reach the surface of quiet water near
the margins of their river or stream to hatch into adult duns. Look for
winged adult mahogany mayflies moving riding along slower riffles and
current seams adjacent to slower water; thick vegetation, roots, and
plant debris offer quiet shelter to these relatively defenseless
nymphs, and subsequently these areas are prime real estate for prolific
hatches of adult mahogany mayflies.
How to Fish Mathews’ Sparkle Dun Mahogany
Fish
this fly on a dead drift through medium to slow water types; slower
current seams and longer intersections of sheltered areas and long,
slow runs are generally very productive water for hatching mahogany
mayflies. The mahogany is a very poor swimmer and its successful
emergence at the water’s surface film usually requires several
attempts. Subsequently, the mahogany mayfly expends a considerable
amount of energy during its hatch period; the trout that feed on these
large adults do not. When a hatch is in full swing, be sure to watch
the individual rises of feeding trout closely and aim for a specific
fish – the drift is like a conveyor belt stocked with food during a
hatch and a trout is not likely to move very far from its holding
position to snag another neat little package of mahogany protein.
Because these bugs often emerge in very slow and shallow water, it is
imperative that an angler approach a likely hatching area with care and
subtlety. When casting to these quiet areas, use long leaders, light
tippet, and do not cast fly line directly above fish – make casts well
upstream of observed feeding rises.
Mahogany
The mahogany (Paraleptophlebia)
is a species of mayfly named after its characteristic deep chocolate
brown color, and enjoys a wide and healthy distribution throughout
North America’s rivers and streams. During its nymph life stage, the
mahogany is identified by its long, slender body, three prominent
tails, and long, flanking, hair-like gills. As an adult, these
beautiful mayflies take on a rich, almost sophisticated look. They are
easily identified by their long, mahogany brown thoraxes and abdomens
and contrasting cream colored legs and tails. Eastern species of this
mayfly tend to display opaque slate colored wings, while western
varieties of the mahogany dun develop a more transparent set of smoky
to clear wings. These mayflies hatch on a yearly cycle and are most
active in the fall and the spring. Mahogany mayflies are not very
strong insects and shy from fast water. This species generally makes
its home in piles of vegetation debris, streamside roots, and in weedy
spring creeks. Slow water of gentle riffles, soft current seams, and
lazy eddys is prime real estate for these timid insects.
Mahogany Adult Life Stage
During
its emerger life stage, these weak-legged swimmers are commonly found
moving clumsily from slow water types to areas of even slower currents.
The most prolific nymph populations tend to occur in cool,
well-oxygenated water; the transition zones from riffles and soft
current seams to slower eddys and slack water are perfect spots to look
for emergent and adult mahogany mayflies. As adults, these deep
mahogany brown mayflies do not generally occur in thick hatches, but
when active, they can provide an angler with steady opportunity
throughout the day. Mahogany emergers hatch to winged adult duns in
both the spring (April and May) and fall (August through October) on
rivers throughout North America. These hatches can occur at any point
during the day. Hatching activity is sporadic to say the least, but
overcast days can create excellent fly fishing situations. Trout can
zero in on a solid hatch of mahogany mayflies, however, making them an
important bug to understand and imitate.
About the Tyer: Craig Mathews
The
sport of fly fishing just grabs hold of some people and never lets go.
That’s what happened to Craig Mathews, accomplished fly tyer, fly
fishing guide, avid conservationist, and owner of West Yellowstone,
Montana’s Blue Ribbon Flies. In his career, Craig has done lots to
advance the sport, and in 2005 he was named “Angler of the Year” by Fly
Rod & Reel magazine. He’s written several books on fly fishing in
the western United States and he even teamed with the visionary head of
Patagona, Inc. to organize and launch 1% for the Planet, a group of
successful companies committed to giving 1 percent of their annual
revenues to environmental conservation efforts. Craig continues to
employ his strong business acumen and love of fly fishing on a daily
basis from his post in West Yellowstone, Montana, helping to push fly
fishing on to its next frontier.
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.”
