I’m wondering if anyone notices a difference in effectiveness with different colored parachute posts. If so, what have you found to be best? Should the post match the color of the natural you are imitating? Does it matter?
White seems to be the most common color on parachute flies but there are colors I’ve seen used that resemble nothing in nature. Does the post even matter?
Looking forward to your replies… and for this snow to melt and trying things out on the stream.
No, but I notice a difference in how well I can see them. I tie them in white, fl yellow, and fl orange. In different light, each works best.
post colors can be white, yellow, orange, pink, gray, black, red
different lighting conditions need different colors
I’ve had some luck with black posts under certain conditions (late day, lots of glare); not a cure-all but a help. I’ve also used a few with a chartreuse post on a local stream that bubbles up like a washing machine in the heavier spring flows; makes it easier to tell fly from foam and the fish don’t seem to care.
Regards,
Scott
I’ve pared it down to yellow and white.
I can see these two colors under most conditions.
Buddy
I’ve only used white, and with all the fish I’ve caught using them, I don’t think they seem to care too much. For me, the white really helps with seeing the fly, especially if you have to make a fairly long cast. I’ve seen the posts in all sorts of colors, so I would imagine that it really boils down to personal preference. Then again, someone with more experience using them may blow my theory out of the water, lol.
TT.
I think the answer begins with figuring out what the post on a parachute fly represents to the fish. Only then can you begin to determine whether the color of that anatomic structure is of much importance.
Normand (and others),
How do you decide what color to use in what conditions? I mean, obviously its ‘pick a color you can see’, but what conditions lead you to choose orange, yellow, etc.?
Hot pink. I have some sparkle yarn…Lots of sparkle yarn, in that color that I got from Gramma’s knitting basket when she didn’t want it. I don’t think I will ever run out. Shows up like a nekkid octogenarian at a rock concert. I just have to comb it out after I tie it in.
I know it doesn’t matter based on the replies, (pink, white, yellow, etc.) but I always match the post to the natural color of the insect I am trying to imitate. When my imitation looks like the real McCoy it gives me confidence in my choice of fly which helps at times, or at least I think it does.
Besides, as a prolific midge fisherman I gave up trying to see my flies years ago! 
I like the hot pink and yellow as well, nephew Tom uses a chartreuse he likes on the foam stuff too.
One of these days I’m going to post a midging thread, picking you guys’s brains about how its done. For now though, those tiny things just intimidate the bajeezus out of me! 
Medium Dun is my post color of choice. There are specialized situations, due to lighting and such when a different color seems to be warranted, but I seem to be able to see the medium dun color in most situations. I have, on occasion, used the SAAP post material in the white color that really seems to “pop” when in sunlight or drab days (it almost glows with a bluish hue around it…).
Kelly.
You may also want to try something like Krystal Flash in different colors (pearl, black, etc).
Grab a fly and hold it up between you and a light source. The entire fly will look black.
My guess is that much of the time, the trout don’t see color at all.
I’ve tried them all and Hot Pink is the most visible in the most situations. It’s now the only hi vis color I bother with other than white.
I keep parachute adams in a snuff can like container. White post means #14, yellow post #16.
I tied some parachute flies with 5 different colors of posts. Caught fish on all of them. The post color did not seem to make a difference to the fish.
Some of the post colors were easier to see at different times.
Rick
I sometimes use orange, for example, on a caddis imitation. (klink)
If anyone thinks a single post doesn’t look realistic enough, you can always split the post.
The how to:
http://www.charliesflyboxinc.com/flybox/details.cfm?parentID=186