Last week we ventured into the world of parachute flies. This week we
continue the progress with a new twist, extended bodies. Finally, we
have a subject that will challenge most of the beginner tyers in the
bunch.
Extended bodies require a type of coordination that only comes with
practice. In fact, after 20 years of messing with these flies, I don’t
feel like I’m very coordinated when tying them. I need another hand and
a few more fingers on each hand. But, after a few practice flies, I’m
usually ready to tie a “production run” of flies. I always tie up at
least a dozen of these at a time while I have my fingers in the mood.
Although the paradrake was designed to match any of the large mayflies
that have extra long bodies, I use this pattern to imitate dragonflies.
The photos in this weeks session are of the dragonfly adaptation of the
paradrake. For those of you who live in areas with a lot of lakes and
dragonflies, this is a killer pattern. That is the main reason I tie as
many extended body flies as I do.
Originally published c. 2004 on Fly Anglers Online by Al Campbell.