Fly Tying

My version of the parachute ant (my buddy Ray actually gets credit for turning me on to this fly) became my most used dry fly this summer.  Over and over I found that it would fool picky trout.  From Spring to Fall this is an amazing fly to try along brush lined river and stream banks.  In fact, you may be surprised how well this fishes all year round.  Many fly anglers forget how important terrestrials are to a trout's diet.  The profile of the parachute ants seems to be more effective than regular ant patterns.  This is the fly that landed me all those Golden Trout I went after recently.  They couldn't get enough.  Tie some up and keep a bunch in your fly box.

INSTRUCTIONS

HOOK:  Standard Dry Fly #16-#20 (TMC 100)

THREAD:  Black

RIB: *Red Thread or Floss

BODY:  Black Dry Fly Dubbing

WING: Poly Yarn - Bright Orange, Red or Hot Pink

HACKLE:  Dun, Grizzly or Brown

*Optional

As I have suggested before, if this is your first attempt at a parachute fly, I recommend starting with a larger size until you get the hang of it.  You can go as small as size #20 with this fly, but I have found #16 to be so effective that going smaller is rarely necessary.  To begin, tie in your thread from just behind the hook eye and wind it to about mid shank.  Trim the tag end and then wrap the thread to about two thirds of the way to the hook eye.  Tie in your parachute with the poly yarn extending over the hook eye.  Start with two or three loose wraps and then add a two or three more tight ones to keep the hair from rolling off the top of the hook shank.  Trim the excess and neatly wrap over the cut ends.  To prepare the wing, wrap the thread forward again and when you reach the parachute lift it up and start wrapping in front of it.  Instead of wrapping towards the hook eye, build a damn to keep the parachute perpendicular to the hook shank.  Once the wing is secured this way, we will build the post for the hackle.  Hold your bobbin upside down and wrap in a clockwise motion around the base of the parachute.  Make sure you keep the tying thread paralel to the ground.  A post of about 1/8" should be sufficient.  I tie in the hackle at this point with a couple wraps around the hook shank and then a couple wraps around the post.  This will leave the hackle feather standing up parallel to the parachute making it much easier to work on the rest of the fly.  Now neatly wrap back to the bend of the hook.  

Build the abdomen with fine black dry dubbing.  Remember to build the abdomen slightly bigger than the thorax.  After you build the abdomen you can tie in the optional rib.  Wrap the tying thread forward to where you want to start the thorax, then wrap the rib tightly to it.  Tie off the rib and build the thorax.  Now wrap the hackle around the thorax at least 5 times.  Remember to wind each wrap below the previous to help keep them in place.  Tie off the excess and build a small head.  Whip finish and add head cement.

Don't want to tie them?... Click on the image below to buy them.

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