Pale Evening Dun
Imitates: Adult pale evening dun mayfly (Ephemerella)
Quick Reference
- Best Sizes
- #14-18
- Best Season
- Late spring through early summer, evening hatches
- Best Conditions
- Eastern spring creeks, freestones, evening rises
- Water Temp
- 58-68°F
- Recommended Tippet
- 5X-6X
How to Rig It
Single dry. Use a Comparadun or parachute style on slow water for a flush profile.
How to Present It
Dead-drift through evening risers. PED hatches are last-light events on Eastern streams.
Why It Works
The pale yellow color matches the Ephemerella mayflies that hatch in clouds at dusk on Eastern and Midwestern streams. It's the trout's last meal of the day during peak hatch weeks.
History
A classic Catskill-style mayfly imitation, the PED matches the Eastern equivalent of the Western PMD — same genus, same evening hatch pattern.
Pro Tip
Be on the water by 7 p.m. in late May and June. The PED hatch lasts 30-60 minutes at last light — fish hard during that window.
Frequently Asked Questions
PED vs PMD?+
Same genus (Ephemerella), different species and regions. PED is the Eastern/Midwestern hatch; PMD is the Western equivalent. Same fly box, different geography.
Not sure if Pale Evening Dun is right today?
Get a fly recommendation based on live water temp, flow, sky, and time of day for any river in the US.
Open Fly Advisor
Map
Fly Guide