Delaware Adams
by Tom Deschaine, Michigan
Previous Flies
Fly Tying Terms

Materials: Delaware Adams

    Hook: Mustad #94840 or #94833 Sizes 10 - 16

    Thread: Black, 6/0

    Tail: Grizzly Hackle Fibers.

    Wing: Grizzly Hackle tips, upright and divided.

    Body: Olive Dubbing.

    Rib: Grizzly Hackle, one size smaller than hook, palmered.

    Head: Grizzly & brown, mixed.

Method: Delaware Adams

    Step 1: Lay down a good bed of threading.

    Step 2: Tie in the Grizzly Hackle Fibers for the tail. Then run your thread forward.

    Step 3: Select and prepare a couple of Grizzly Hackle tips to use for your wings.

    Step 4: Tie in the hackle tip wings. Then run your thread back.

    Step 5: Tie in your Grizzly Hackle (one size smaller than the hook). Please note I have tied it in by the tip. Later, when you palmer it forward it will provide a natural tapered appearance.

    Step #6. Prepare your thread with dubbing wax, candle wax or chap stick. I prefer Wapsi. The consistency is just the way I like it.

    Step #7. Apply your dubbing to your thread. You can use any olive dubbing.

    Step #8. Apply your dubbing and tie it off. Now is the time to trim your fly body if you don't like the 'buggy look.'

    Step #9. Now that the body is tied in, palmer the Grizzly rib forward and tie it off.

    Step #10. Tie in, one each Grizzly and Brown hackle.

    Step #11. Wrap the hackle in and tie them off in the normal manner. Whip finish.

    Step #12. Remove the thread, trim the fly, if needed and add head cement.

This fly was originally tied by the late Walt Dette, a Catskill tier from Roscoe, New York. It was tied for a friend of his by the name of Art Lee to be originally used on the Delaware River. To this day, the fly is very popular in New York State.

Another common variation of the fly is to use a floss body instead of dubbing. (Shown on the right.)

About Tom:

I'm a retired high school science teacher, living in Westland, Michigan. I've been a hunter, fisherman and outdoorsman my entire life. But, it wasn't until 1984, that a friend of mine introduced me to the sport of fly fishing. I got the 'bug' real bad and within a year or two I had added fly tying and rod building to my list of sportsman's skills.

Although I have fished most of the great rivers in this country, my all time favorite is still, my home river, the Au Sable, here in Michigan.

My retirement is now providing me with the time I need to write a little and share with you some of the tips, tricks, patterns and experiences I've had over the years. Stay tuned.

See you on the water… ~ Tom Deschaine

For more great flies, check out: Beginning Fly Tying, Intermediate Fly Tying and Advanced Fly Tying.