Parachute

The Parachute is one of the most famous and, might I add, effective, dry fly patterns known to anglers. Moreover, between its versatility, reliability, and ease of visibility on the water, it is one of the most essential fly patterns to keep stocked in your fly box. Ok, that’s all well and good, but if you’re new to fly fishing, the question you’re probably asking is, what is a Parachute?

A Parachute is a dry fly pattern designed to accomplish two things:

1. Imitate the adult stage of a wide range of aquatic-born insects such as mayflies, midges, and even caddis.
2. Provide anglers with a high-visibility “parachute” to make the fly easy to see while it floats through the water.

The Parachute is a staple fly pattern for just about any freshwater situation. Therefore, if you’re entering the wonderful world of fly fishing, this is one of the most important patterns you can have in your fly box.

Hook: #12-22 dry fly
Thread: Any color, or to match the body
Tail: Hackle fibers
Body: Adams gray dubbing
Post: White calftail (or synthetic)
Hackle: Brown and grizzly