Any (easy) alternative dry techniques that mimic parachute style?

[PaScoGi]

I just cannot tie parachutes. Its gonna take me a long time, I've watched several videos and my dexteriority just isnt as good as the famous you tube tiers. Their concepts make sense, and there are many different techniques. I just cant tie parachute dry flies at this point. My post is too weak and I cannot tie off the hackle after I wrap it up the post about 10 times. Ill keep trying but for now Id like to explore other options.

Anyway, I was always told and always read that the reason for parachute style dry flies is to keep the body of the fly in the water, usually right below the meniscus or in the surface film. The other method is catskills style that keeps everything above the water. I can easily tie catskills style dry flies, no issues with that. But eventually I will have to figure out how to tie parachute styles.

In the meantime, is there any method (not parachute) that would mimic the same principles of a parachute dry fly, without having to actually tie a parachute post? AI was not helpful, and the only article I found was from the River Reporter who uses spinner wings and says it works the same for common patterns like the Hendrickson.

Thanks for any suggestions!

 

[albatross]

Hackle stacker style gives the same effect but I wouldn't consider it easier than parachute. I would suggest tying the hackle Catskill style but then trimming the hackle on the underside of the fly. Some folks just trim a V out of the bottom and some go ahead and trim straight across the bottom leaving a half circle of hackle. Play around.

 

[Bamboozle]

I don't know if it is easier, but a Comparadun comes immediately to mind...

BTW - Have you tried using a "gallows tool" when tying parachutes??

 

[hooker-of-men]

Video: How to Tie the Isonychia Smoke Jumper - Orvis News

The Smoke Jumper has been around for awhile, and it’s quite popular on the Bighorn River in Montana. It was originally tied as a midge emerger by Mike Hoiness of Yellowstone Fly Goods in Billings, but it’s now tied in many . . .

news.orvis.com

Edit: Oops, Bam beat me to it.

 

[dudemanspecial]

My post is too weak and I cannot tie off the hackle after I wrap it up the post about 10 times.

Are you wrapping the hackle around the post 10 times? I do 3 to 4 turns, maybe 5 if I am mixing brown and grizzly or if I want a little thicker hackle for some reason.

What material are you using for your wing post?
What brand and size thread are you using?
What style are you using to tie the post in? Link a video to what you are watching to learn if you can.

 

[hooker-of-men]

My post is too weak and I cannot tie off the hackle after I wrap it up the post about 10 times.

Following up on dudeman: if I'm reading this correctly, are you palmering up the post? I.e. you're wrapping the hackle from the body upwards? If so, that might be your problem.

It helps to tie in your hackle by starting at the body and taking thread wraps up the post to secure the hackle. This strengthens the post so you can wrap the hackle back down towards the body.

Sorry if maybe I'm just misunderstanding your wording.

 

[kbobb]

Try a small drop of UV activated glue at the base of the post, it should wick into the post material - let it harden with the UV light.
Then you should have a hard post base that doesn't flex to wrap hackle on. Also helps strengthen the fly.
I have become a fan of the judicious use of superglue on my flies and they last longer and fish the same.

Can also try this:

 

[nfrechet]

How to tie Fender Parachute fly

Fender Parachute fly emerger. Hackle Roe deer hair and Bug Bond

thefeatherbender.com

 

[nfrechet]

another method was to make a loop of wire as the post, insert deer hair into the loop and twist until the hairs flared out like shown above. then trim off the wire

there was a step by step on a UK forum years ago but it is long gone

the way i tie them - Fly Fishing Forums

Heres my way of tyings this fly hope you like it first dub your hook then tie in a loop of wire finnish your dubbing and whip finnish insert dear hair

web.archive.org

not my photos but you get the gist

 

[JimNovo]

In the meantime, is there any method (not parachute) that would mimic the same principles of a parachute dry fly, without having to actually tie a parachute post? AI was not helpful, and the only article I found was from the River Reporter who uses spinner wings and says it works the same for common patterns like the Hendrickson.

Thanks for any suggestions!

You can always try a loop wing using CDC. I use this quite often on mayflies.

Alternatively, just a tuft of cdc or snowshoe hare as a wing will get the job done. An example of these is below.

.

 

[JimNovo]

And here is a cdc loop wing.

 

[afishinado]

I tie parachutes, both big and small all the time.

Wrapping hackle on the post is much easier when the post is oriented parallel to the vise head.

I tie in the tail, post and body and finish the fly all the way the eye, whip finish and cut the thread tag.

I then rotate the fly 90* and orient the post parallel to the vise head (I prefer the fly rotated with the hook eye up so I can use the vise to rest my hand on when aligning the hackle feather).

I start my thread on the post the same as I would around the hook shank when starting a fly, and wind the thread up the post as far as I want the hackle to begin (I use fine thread for wrapping hackle for a neater job).

As mentioned above, you can put a little head cement or UV coating on the base of the post to stiffen it up if necessary, but be sure make enough wraps on the post to lay down a good stiff base on the post for wrapping the hackle.

I then take my hackle feather stem, which is stripped of unwanted hackle fibers and wrap it to the post leaving a little extra stem exposed which allows me to orient the hackle properly. The tied in hackle stem in itself will add to the stiffness of the post for wrapping the hackle.

I begin to wrap the hackle down towards the base and tie off the hackle feather with a few thread wraps.

Sometimes I apply a little head cement or UV coating to the thread, whip finish and cut off the tag of thread and trim off the end of the hackle feather.

Done!

I learned this method from a commercial tyer on a trip out-west back in the 80's and it has worked well for me for decades of tying parachute flies. I tie a lot of them since it's my favorite tie for most mayfly patterns.

Wrapping hackle with this method is really just as easy as wrapping the hackle on a Catskill tie. Try it. With a little practice you will be able to tie parachutes well without any hassles or buying and things like a gallows tool or rotating hackle pliers.

 

[Tigereye]

Not sure if you watched this video, but Vlads explanation here of how and WHY you perform the technique were a game changer for me..

 

[Kms]

My post is too weak and I cannot tie off the hackle after I wrap it up the post about 10 times.

Maybe use more material in your post, use a few more thread wraps to stiffen it, and wrap the hackle down the post toward the body of the fly until the feather just starts to get jammed up.

For me at least, wrapping up the post nearly always left me with a failure and a mess.

 

[troutbert]

I would suggest tying the hackle Catskill style but then trimming the hackle on the underside of the fly. Some folks just trim a V out of the bottom and some go ahead and trim straight across the bottom leaving a half circle of hackle.

I often tie flies this way. It is very easy and the flies are very effective. It is probably the easiest way to tie good imitative mayfly patterns.

I don't tie on a wing. The hackle acts as the wing. You just wrap the hackle pretty full, then cut out a V or cut straight across on the bottom. If you want a name for this style, you can call it a Hackle Comparadun.

 

[gfenlikestolosepasswords]

I had one of those little springy clips that I thought was quite helpful when I started. Plus it looks all fancy when there's jangly bits hanging from your vice, very professional and all.

Anyways, tie your post material in and pull it up and then wrap thread around to hold it upwards. It helps to yoink it back towards the bend a bit.

Take your hackle feather and strip the bottom bare, then tie that from the bottom of the post to the top then back down and let the thread hang. But that first bit is the i mportant bit, strip the hackle bare where you tie it to the post.

Use a good hackle pliers, the one with the jaws that move independently or the little electric style clip were the ones I use, and wrap your hack downwards the post. I'd pull it towards the eye and then tie it down where teh post and shank met, cut it off.

Catch it up in your fingers and pull it all back and away to g ive yourself room to make your head and tie off.

They float better than catskills style better and, to my lazy self, cover both dun and spinner. Also who has enough tiny hackle ends to make catskills style?

 

[nfrechet]

My post is too weak and I cannot tie off the hackle after I wrap it up the post about 10 times.

 

[salmo]

I often tie flies this way. It is very easy and the flies are very effective. It is probably the easiest way to tie good imitative mayfly patterns.

I don't tie on a wing. The hackle acts as the wing. You just wrap the hackle pretty full, then cut out a V or cut straight across on the bottom. If you want a name for this style, you can call it a Hackle Comparadun.

I almost always trim the bottom of my hackled flies.

 

[Skook]

Tom Baltz ties his ParaNymph pattern in this video. He swears by the rotating-style hackle pliers for tying parachutes. Note that he wraps the hackle down the post in a counterclockwise fashion (as a right-handed tier) to keep things tidy. He explains why in the video.