Prolific and widespread, the Pale Morning Dun (Ephemerella excrucians) is easily the mayfly that’s most important to Western anglers. Depending on the location, Pale Morning Dun hatches may be encountered from April to October. On my home water, PMDs generally appear in early June, often coinciding with the March Brown hatches, with almost daily hatches well into July. The pattern featured here covers the March Brown hatch, as well.
Adult PMDs range in size from 14 to 18, and a size 16 seems the most common. Colors vary according to location, ranging from yellow to the mahogany bug that hatches from my home water. The latter is not pale, and it doesn’t hatch in the morning, though it does hatch at midday, earlier than most mayflies. Locals call it a Red Quill or Little Red Quill, both perfectly descriptive regional names, even though these same names are applied to several other species of mayflies occurring elsewhere. The Pheasant Tail Nymph is a standard choice for imitating the Pale Morning Dun hatch. Al Troth’s American Pheasant Tail Nymph soft hackle was my longtime favorite, though I never felt the tailing was quite right. To my eye, the Pheasant Tail is too heavy and not a good match for the natural’s barred tails. I believe the killing element of Troth’s version is the body design, which is a good match for the natural’s color and profile. At maturity, the thoraxes of mayfly nymphs become dark, while the swollen wing cases, half the body length, turn iridescent black, and this feature can be represented simply and effectively with peacock herl.
The fly presented here is a basic “confidence pattern” composed of four well-known and effective elements: lemon wood duck, pheasant tail, peacock herl, and speckled hen. It is meant to simulate a mature nymph or emerger and is effective when swung and drifted in the upper water column during a hatch, though it may be tied weighted or with a bead head and fished deep, as well.
Pale Morning Dun Nymph/Emerger
Hook: size 12 to 16
Thread: Brown Pearsall’s Gossamer Silk or brown tying thread
Hackle: Brahma hen or brown partridge (may be tied in last, if you prefer)
Tail: 3 lemon wood duck barred flank fibers
Abdomen: 3 cock ringneck pheasant tail swords twisted with the tag of the tying silk (may be ribbed with fine wire)
Thorax: 2 peacock herls twisted with the tying silk (I like thin, dark herls for these)
