Thursday, June 6, 2013

Tying the Isonychia/Slate Drake Parachute

There is something about fly tying, for me at least, that binds all of the strands that comprise fly fishing, into a nice contented bundle.  When I tie a fly, I think about how I want it to look once I get on the stream and tie it to the end of my tippet. And, then how it will look and behave when it is fished?

Will the trout like what they see? That's the goal; will the trout react to my fly?  It is a very creative process that some say has an artistic bent to it.  And it just may.  But when I tie, I am not trying to be artistic, I am trying to be creative.  There's a difference; I am trying to create something that appeals to the sensibilities (instincts) of a trout, not my own.  Whether I am tying an imitative or an attractor pattern, the finished fly has to have certain qualities that in my mind will get the fish to take it.  Although a little piece of me does "wind" up in every fly I tie.

So here we have an Isonychia parachute - it has the right color, a long slender body, a dark tail, and a "footprint" of dun hackle to mimic the legs of the natural.  The white wing is simply a visual crutch for the angler, and since the pattern works quite well, we can assume the sight of it doesn't seem to matter to the trout.


RECIPE
Hook: Dai Riki #300 size 12
Thread: 6/0 Olive Danville
Wing: White calf body hair
Tail: Moose body hair
Body: Rabbit - 2 parts burgundy, 1 part gray, 1 part black (I know, the video says 1:1:1 - that's my error)
Hackle: Medium dun 

And as always a big thank you to Tim Flagler - Tightline Productions, for another great job with video production.

Tie some up and sharpen those hooks!   

3 comments:

Doug said...

Could not agree more Matt... The creative comes out in me when I'm trying to design a new fly, match a hatch or build in a specific trigger to attract the fish. It's great fun!

Mr. Q said...

Matt, I have know you less than a decade, and we have fished a few times and discussed fishing more times than I am sure you care to remember..never have I seen you with, or have heard you speak of a parachute style fly.....My curiosity is peaked.....and that is a pretty fly...and as always a great read!!!

Matt Grobert said...

Mr.Q. - Truth be told, I rarely fish parachutes; preferring to tie and fish simpler patterns. They do have their place and some of the guys I fish with use them with great success. To each his own.