Parachute Adams Dry Freshwater Hook : Dry fly hook #10-20. Thread : Black 6/0 or 8/0. Tail : Grizzly Hackle Fibres. Wing Post : Pale Dun HiVis Body : Dubbing - blue/grey underfur of rabbit skin (no guard hairs). Parachute Hackle : Grizzly Cock Hackle. Thorax : Dubbing - blue/grey underfur of rabbit skin (no guard hairs).
Tying Instructions Start thread at 2/3 hook shank and wind back. Form a small ball of tying thread at the end of the hook shank by winding in the same spot for 4 or 5 turns. 1. Tie in tail hackle fibres in front of the ball and splay fibres so they fan out. If you tie back into the ball of thread, the fibres will stand out and up a little. This will stabilise the finished fly on the water. 2. Wind thread forward to 2/3 hook shank and tie in wing material. Trim waste material at the back neatly so that it slopes back towards the tail. Leave the post longer than is required - about 1.5-2cm should be enough. This makes tying the parachute hackle easier. 3. After binding down wing from behind, take thread to in front of wing post and stand up with 3 turns hard up against the base of the post. 4. Take 3 turns of thread around the post to secure it up right and wind the thread back to the tail. 5. Dub a fine tapered body up to the wing post. 6. Select a hackle and tie in at the wing post. The hackle fibres should be equal to the shank length or a little longer. The hackle should be shiny side up (the natural curve of the feather should be facing down). Tie the hackle in so that it is horizontal to the body and flat. Ensure that there is 2-3mm of bare stem after the hackle has been tied in. This helps when starting to wrap the hackle. 7. Dub a thorax in front of and around the wing post. This will keep the parachute hackle level after it is tied. Leave plenty of room at the front to tie in hackle and whip finish. 8. Wrap hackle around the post. When starting to wrap, it may help to hold the post with one hand and the hackle in the other. Take as many turns around the post as practical. 5 or 6 wraps is fine, 2 or 3 will do. NOTE: Always wind the hackle so that each wrap is BELOW the previous one. This ensures that the hackle remains in a tight dense bunch. Keep it all as tight as possible. 9. Bring the end of the hackle feather to the front but on top of the body. 10. Tie it off on top and build up a small head. 11. Whip finish and apply head set. Don't be afraid to hold back the hackle to tie off the fly. If you have tied the hackle securely, you will be able to fix the fibres after you have tied off. 12. Trim the wing post so that it is about the length of the shank or a little shorter. 13. Optional - for added security, place a small drop of head set or vinyl cement at the base of the post to secure the hackle in place.
Fly Notes This is a generic tie for a parachute hackle. I have also had success with essentially the same fly but in brown and "rusty" brown. To be truer to an "Adams" tie, you can mix brown and grizzly hackle fibres in the tail and brown and grizzly hackle feathers for the parachute but I have found that unnecessary, as the fly has been successful as is. The wing post can be any material. I like the HiVis because it offers superb visibility in high and low light conditions. I have also used calf hair and deer hair but these are fiddlier to tie and do not seem to offer any advantages. Wrapping a parachute hackle takes a little practice but once you have got the hang of the technique it is just as easy as a "normal" hackle to tie. I generally use this fly in #14 or #16 but I also use up to #10 and down to #18. Tied in small size, it can also be a midge emerger.
Fishing Notes Essentially a trout fly. This is a very visible and fairly buoyant dry fly. The fly rests in the surface film. Best presentation is on a long fine leader. This allows the hackle to gently float the fly onto the water. The parachute style hackle means that the fly will land correctly most of the time and this makes presentation easier. Use it on an evening rise where it remains visible until dark even in small sizes. I have successfully used this fly in moonlight.
Location Notes It can be fished in runs & riffles as well as glides and pools. Fish it on a lake when fish are rising.
Prey Notes This fly represents the emerger or dun stage of an insect. It is more typical of a mayfly emerger but it has been successfully fished during caddis hatches as well.
Tier Laurie Ellul

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