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Technical reviewed side profile illustration of the PMD Comparadun showing upright fan wing, split tail fibers, slender pale body, no hackleIllustrated reference

Dry · guide 14

PMD Comparadun

A low-riding, hackleless Pale Morning Dun dry with a fan-shaped deer-hair wing.

Common size
#14–18
Common colors
pale yellow, cream, dun wing
Imitates
Pale Morning Dun adult mayfly, low-riding mayfly dun
How to recognize it

A pale slender body, split tail, upright semicircular deer-hair wing, and no hackle define the Comparadun profile. Sulfur and BWO Comparaduns are color or hatch-specific destinations, not automatically PMDs.

Technical reviewed side profile illustration of the PMD Comparadun showing upright fan wing, split tail fibers, slender pale body, no hackle
Illustrated reference

PMD Comparadun reviewed side profile

A schematic profile emphasizing upright fan wing and split tail fibers.

View
reviewed side profile
Color shown
pale yellow body and dun hair wing
Look for
upright fan wing; split tail fibers; slender pale body; no hackle
Open full-size image ↗

On the water

Know when and how to fish it.

Use these tips as a starting point. The river, depth, insects, and fish behavior still decide the final presentation.

01

When to use it

  • During PMD dun activity in slower seams and flats.
  • When fish reject higher-riding hackled dries.
  • For selective risers keyed to a low silhouette.
02

How to fish it

  • Present on a drag-free dead drift.
  • Keep floatant off the lower body if a low ride is desired.
  • Match body shade and hook size to the local PMDs.
03

Mistakes to avoid

  • Using PMD as a synonym for every pale mayfly.
  • Calling a Sparkle Dun or parachute pattern a Comparadun.
  • Ignoring the identifying fan wing and hackleless construction.

Common variations

Small changes can make a different fly.

Three reviewed technical illustrations provide a profile, material map, and presentation view. They are identification aids, not photorealistic substitutes for tied examples.

Reviewed core form

A pale slender body, split tail, upright semicircular deer-hair wing, and no hackle define the Comparadun profile. Sulfur and BWO Comparaduns are color or hatch-specific destinations, not automatically PMDs.
Colors shown
pale yellow, cream, dun wing
Weighting
Weighting is stated in the identification and use notes when it defines the reviewed form.

Related patterns

Blue-Winged Olive Patterns ↗

How this guide was checked

Fly information and photo sources.

Guide checked on 2026-07-12. Every image has its own source and usage record. Natural insects and hand-tied flies can vary in shape and proportion.

Pattern sources

Fly Fishers InternationalFederation of Fly Fishers Fly of the Month: Comparadun↗

Image credits