Comparadun
Also called Comparadun wing, No-hackle dun
A Comparadun is a mayfly imitation tied without hackle, using a flared deer-hair wing and a tapered body to sit low and look like a dun.
- Group
- Dry fly patterns
- Category
- Flies & fly types
- Level
- Intermediate
- Water
- Freshwater
Last updated
What Comparadun means
Hackle is the missing piece on a Comparadun. The fly gets its footprint from a clipped, flared deer-hair wing (often called a “comparadun” wing) and a dubbed body that tapers to a thin tail.
Most are tied to match mayfly duns like Blue-winged olives, Pale morning duns, and other small-to-medium mayflies. The low profile and wide wing help it read as a mayfly with upright wings, especially on flatter water where trout get time to inspect.
Presentation stays simple. A dead-drift with slack line is the default. Many anglers treat it as a “first look” dun pattern, then switch to a Parachute or a Spinner if refusals keep happening.
Why it matters on the water
Understanding the Comparadun helps with fly choice on technical water. Hackle can prop a fly up and leave a tidy ring around it. A Comparadun sits lower and shows more body, which can track better with what trout expect during a steady mayfly hatch.
It also changes how to maintain the fly. Deer hair and dubbing can waterlog after a few fish or a few drifts. A quick false cast, a squeeze in amadou or a cloth, then a small amount of floatant on the wing and thorax keeps the profile right without turning it into a cork.
Read next
- Blue-winged olive“Blue-winged olive” (BWO) is the common fly-fishing name for several small mayflies in the Baetis group. Anglers use it to describe the hatch and the flies used to match it.
- Pale morning dunA “Pale Morning Dun” (PMD) is a common mayfly hatch made up of small, pale yellow mayflies. Anglers use PMD nymph, emerger, dun, and spinner patterns to match it.
- ParachuteA parachute is a dry-fly style with the hackle wrapped horizontally around a post, so the fly rides low and stays visible.
- SpinnerA spinner is a dry fly that imitates an adult mayfly after it has mated and fallen spent on the water, usually with wings laid flat to the sides.