question on parachutes

Exactly what purpose does the parachute itself serve? I know it offers good visibility of the fly, and it gives you something to wind the hackle around, but am I correct in saying that it shouldn't have any bearing on the fly's flotation? I only ask because the first few parachutes I tied with poly yarn posts had a tendency to drop completely under the surface, especially if there was any disturbance in the water. At first I thought it was because of the post material and switched to calf tail; now I'm thinking it was because I didn't wind enough hackle on those flies, and that's why they wouldn't float well. So does it matter whether I use poly yarn or calf tail if my only concern is to keep the fly in the film?

Best,

Dave

The hackle is what provides flotation. I mostly use parachutes for low riding patterns. This is a pattern for slower water. I don't use calf tail for posts anymore. Too bulky especially on small flies. I tie in poly or antron like a spent wing with figure eights on top of the hook. Then swing the poly under the hook and pull the ends upward. Make a few wraps around the base and tie in the hackle. Also, I dip the parachute in rain-X when finished. Hope this helps.

That's strange that they would sink like that . Make sure that your using light wire dry fly hooks .

Do your traditionally hackled flies sink, too? If not, I would have to conclude that it is because of too few hackle wraps on your parachute flies.

Another thing some tyiers do is use slightly larger hackle (one size larger). You might try that as an alternative to more wraps of the normal sized hackle. It would provide a bigger footprint for the fly. Perhaps too it would cause the fly to land softer??? And if a fly lands softer, it might be less inclined to break the surface tension of the water and therefore stay floating... just a thought.

Peter F

[This message has been edited by Peter F (edited 31 March 2006).]

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Another thing some tyiers do is use slightly larger hackle (one size larger). You might try that as an alternative to more wraps of the normal sized hackle. It would provide a bigger footprint for the fly. Perhaps too it would cause the fly to land softer??? And if a fly lands softer, it might be less inclined to break the surface tension of the water and therefore stay floating... just a thought.

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I agree confucius say:
"Fat man need bigger parachute"

Are you tying in your hackle with the dull side down? If not, that could be part of your problem. Are you using a dubbing that's suited to dry flies? That could cause problems as well.

Jeremy

Just took a parachute class, and all the above suggestions are correct in
1. Needed one size oversized hackle

2. 5-6 complete turns of hackle. Good long saddles with little or no web.

3. Tied concave side down. Should look like a little umbrella.

4. Stiff, long tails to float the back of the fly.

5. Tight, fine dubbing.

Poly, antron, or hivis for the wing are much easier than calf tail or body.

Build the post first, and wind up the post far enough that the hackle is wound onto the thread. Wind the hackle from top down.

Al's tying instructions cover this very well too. Good luck.

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I fish a lot of quiet water, and would never dream of using 5-6 wraps of hackle on a parachute. Two to three tops. But yes, for faster water I would. I like as to get all my dries as sparse as possible, as long as they'll still float.
Eric

Eric,
Do you find your fish take is greater with sparser hackle in calm water?
Out here on the Fall river ( Gin Clear and quite) the body profile is what makes the difference, slender and sleek.Hackle is not as important.
Jim

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Hey Eric,

You are right about the calm water. Fewer is a nicer silhouette. I generally use paras for visibility and low profile in the water. I do go less on big hair body or foam drakes, or really tiny flies on very calm water. But 5-6 is an average general use fly 12-16 with regular or biot dubbing. Should have made that clear.

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