Tying the Gray Fox (mayfly dun dry fly pattern)

I tied this for the Stenonema fuscum (aka Gray Fox) hatch in the Smoky Mountains in March/April. It's a fairly typical and easy-to-tie mayfly dun.
Hook: #12-16 dry fly
Thread: Black
Tail: Light brown or ginger hackle fibers
Body: Red fox underfur (or tan/cream dry fly dubbing)
Hackle: Ginger and grizzly dry fly
** Some of the popular books used on this channel: **
Fly Pattern Encyclopedia: amzn.to/34U0rUe
Mike Valla's "Tying the Founding Flies," 2015, amzn.to/354oSir
Valla's "Tying and Fishing Bucktails..." 2016, amzn.to/3Jg2Mys
Valla's "Tying Catskill-Style Dry Flies," 2020, amzn.to/3DmYOjJ
Valla's "Classic Streamer Fly Box," 2020, amzn.to/3n3Vakf
Dave Hughes, "Essential Trout Flies," 2017, amzn.to/3lbCZYX
Hughes, "Nymphs for Streams and Stillwaters," amzn.to/3HC2jpc
Hughes, "Wet Flies," 2015, amzn.to/33ac3lQ
David Klausmeyer's "Favorite Flies," 2020, amzn.to/3oeSNMa
Randle Scott Stetzer's "Flies, the Best One Thousand," amzn.to/34Q15mp
Terry Hellekson's "Popular Fly Patterns," 1976, amzn.to/2L4IyvS
Dick Stewart's, "Flies for Bass and Panfish," 1992, amzn.to/3aGpFs1
Savage Flies is a project with the mission of encouraging and teaching fly tying to as many people as possible. The channel is named after one of my western Maryland homewaters, the Savage River. Thanks for stopping by.

[@joeduca8582]

Nice easy pattern Matt. I could have used some of that fox's underfur, the temp this morning was -1🥶I like the no wing approach. Good luck on your upcoming adventure 👍

[@edwardmlotkiewicz2343]

My second largest brook trout, 2 lb. 3 oz, on the Paulinskill River, was caught on a Gray Fox. Great fly for mid-spring on Eastern waters. Thanks,Matt.

[@cjorde673]

I’ll try this on our Wyoming waters. Thank you for the video.
Enjoy your trip.

[@ki6ada2005]

Thanks Matt. Another great video. Music in background was great. I’m still consider myself a beginner. Tight lines. Steve in Redding.

[@floydharlan2152]

Lol, sometimes feathers don't like to play like we would like. Nice fly.

[@DB-iu8yl]

Thanks again Matt for another great fly. Hopefully the fish on the Chattooga want to eat it the last weekend of march!

[@AlAraujo-zr2nh]

Great fly. Have a great day Matt!

[@FlyTyer1948]

I recognized this as one of the earliest dry flies that I tied as a newish tyer, so I had to look up why. It was in Art Flick’s Streamside Guide as a popular Catskill dry. Further looking showed it as this month’s featured fly at Stockards. Yup, this is good one & now it’s no longer forgotten. This is going on my to-do list. Good choice, Matt, & you need a bigger box for that trip. ;-)

[@johnnylightning1491]

Nice easy fly Matt. I missed this on Sunday but I have a good excuse, I was hanging with Russ Maddin getting taught how to tie the Circus Peanut from the master himself. Keep the good stuff coming buddy.

[@bigdaddy99929]

Great little fly. Thx again Matt!!

[@edwardchavez5627]

Good Morning Sir Matt, Gray Fox , I hope you bring back some footage fly fishing the Smokey,s . Enjoy your trip and tight lines, my friend.

[@davehall2160]

Good looking fly, Matt
I wish I was going with you
Hope you have the best time
Thanks for the video

[@gordonmiller4439]

I look forward to your Smokies trip report Matt! All the very best, Gordon

[@chevyguy6510]

Thanks for sharing this Matt. Love the Smoky Mountains too! We usually visit Townsend entrance in Tennessee. Even caught a few last spring.

[@jeffjackson5331]

Sweet looking fly. You and your family have a wonderful day.

[@diecastrejuvenation7779]

Always room for another fly! Looking forward to some footage of your trip. Give this fly a go and let us know how it did.

[@markfritch3168]

Nice pattern! Hoping you have great luck in the Smoky Mountains!! Thanks again for all you do for our sport.

[@Jd-yc3gw]

Good morning Matt. ☕️. Beautiful day on the desert this morning. Nice dry fly today. Hope you share some video of your fishing trip with us. Take care.

[@tonygarrett601]

Great pattern enjoy your trip. The weather here in Georgia looks like it’s going to start warming up next week it should be nice by the time you get to the mountains

[@jimholland1592]

I like that Matt, good morning for everything. 😉☕️☕️

[@ZacharyBobbie1611]

Thank you for sharing this pattern, Matt!!! Tight lines!! 😎🎣

[@bobteeden2657]

Nice looking fly Matt

[@bigbucksrgr8]

It’s almost that time for the Smokies. Got up to almost 70 here in Knoxville today. Won’t be long!

[@lewisward4359]

When I saw dry fly in the title I kinda shyed away from the video, I dislike setting wings. THis is a simple pattern though. Thanks.

[@zarchy55]

My favorite of all Catskills dries. I never wrap both hackles together. One at a time.

[@proflyfisher]

Hey Matt! The smokies are in my neck of the woods, check out the N.C. side. The book you showed is excellent and loaded with information. Enjoyed watching.

[@mitnwes]

Always enjoy your videos. Guide here in Smokies. Don’t sleep on the Little Pigeon in spring for smallmouth. Great fishery. Reach out if you want to float it

[@tompeterson559]

Another great fly! Thanks Matt!

[@bcon900]

I have a trip planned to the Smokies late March as well so a put a couple in my box.

[@BeyerOutdoors]

Thank you for the video & instructions.

[@leemowers9395]

Done with another Dun. You may have to leave off the Grizzly on the size 18's. Thanks for sharing Matt.

[@burtonbrocious171]

Good all. Purpose dry fly Matt tks 😊

[@harryjoesather6539]

HAT....thanks matt...see ya joe.

[@samuelheadrick5098]

Maybe I will run into you in the Smokes. We are up there a lot

[@davidveilleux4688]

Nice tie Matt . Never fished the smokey mountains . Got to add that to my bucket list . What are the primary species of trout there ?

[@TERRYBIGGENDEN]

Nce. rRminiscent of the old Grey Duster (English fly, no tail).