Fly Tying

Blue Wing Olive Parachute Emerger
by David Campbell

HOOK : Standard Dry Fly Size 20 to 14

THREAD : Olive, Brown, or Black 8/0

TAIL: Hackle Fibers or Microfibetts

POST: White Calf Tail, Antron, or Poly

HACKLE: Dark Dun Dry Fly Hackle One Size Smaller

BODY : Dark Olive Fine Dubbing

Start thread about 1/3 from hook eye and work thread back to the barb. Tie in about 4 or 5 of the tail fibers. Tail should be about same length as the hook shank. Move the thread back to about 1/2 the hook shank and tie in the post material on top of the hook to about the 1/3 starting point. Make a few thread wraps in front of the post material so that it stands straight up on top of the hook. Next make thread wraps up the post for about 1/8 inch and then back down. Be sure not to apply too much pressure or the thread wraps will pull off the post. Prepare the hackle and tie in the same way as the post material. Wrap thread around the hackle up the post and back down. Move your thread back to the barb and dub a tapered body up to the post then taper down to the hook eye. Don't "crowd" the eye. Leave enough room to whip finish! A couple of half hitches at this point might be a good idea. Now palmer the hackle down the post for about 4 or 5 turns and tie off at the hook eye. Be careful not to tie down any of the hackle fibers. A Thompson finish tool is best or just apply a few half hitches so as not to tie down any fibers. A touch of head cement will secure the whole thing together. Lastly, trim the post to a length representing a wing.

A parachute dry fly is not too difficult to tie and will give a gentle presentation on the water. It will also float below the surface tension resembling an emerging insect.