Sulphur Micro Dun Part 1.2
Above photo: A size 24 Sulphur is one of my favorite patterns to fish on summer mornings.
When spooky Browns are sporadically rising to passing little duns, a tiny pattern like this can often make or break your day's worth of fishing. I tie this one with a combination of yellow and peach Kapok and blend it thoroughly.
When you start getting down to hooks smaller than #20, you have to economize everything along a hook shank, especially on a short shank hook. As you can see in the photo above, the TMC 531 has a short shank and a wide gape, which is ideal for micropatterns. Hook-ups on the 531 are very positive, and I have a ton of confidence in these hooks in very small sizes. The pitfall is that you have limited space along the hook shank. Using Kapok allows me to keep the bulk down even in the thorax. Using Semperfli Nano Silk in 18/0 allows for a very bulk-free fly. I am a bit of a “thread head,” as Ed Engle would say, because without the right thread, this fly will get bulky very quickly. If you were to use a Uni 8/0, you would probably have to count wraps very carefully, and even then, you would be pushing the limits of the proportions on a #24 hook. Thread is one of the most important aspects of tying tiny flies. On a side note, the Nano Silk 18/0 thread from Semperfli is outstanding, but a huge drawback is that it dulls tying scissors very, very quickly, so using a disposable scalpel is most helpful. The two CDC feathers create a wing that is canted with a buildup of Kapok dubbing on each side of the wing base, in a darker peach color. Four turns of golden ginger hackle from an old Metz cape complements the color ways of this tiny Sulphur Dun. Kapok is chosen even over fine beaver belly as a dubbing; I can control it much more easily on these fine GSP threads. The result is an extremely buoyant fly.
Above photo: From a shot like this, you can see how I squirt hackle using a criss-cross wrap around the thorax. Only four turns of hackle are needed.
Above photo: Having a midge jaw on your vise makes it easier to get your hands around the hook with minimal interruption. The tails are simply stiff fibers from the largest feathers from a golden ginger Metz cape. These three fibers are split using a single loop strand of Semperfli Nano Silk. The entire fly is tied with white Semperfli Nano Silk in 18/0. A Pantone #465 tan marker is used to color the white Nano Sik thread on the head after it is whip-finished.
~Sulphur Micro-Dun~
Hook: TMC 531 #24 or Partridge K1A #24
Thread: White Semperfli Nano Silk 18/0
Tails: Hackle fibers Golden Ginger, or CDL Ginger Pardo
Body: Kapok yellow mixed with peach
Wing: CDC light ginger x2 small feathers
Hackle: Golden Ginger
Head: Tan #465 Pantone marker
This is a very simple pattern to tie in larger sizes, but as you move down to hooks #20 and smaller, it takes some practice and a lot of patience to get proportions correct. Don't drink too much coffee prior to tying these little guys. Again, be mindful of very gossamer materials and low bulk wraps.
~Cheers Clint Bova~
