hook - Dai Riki 320 #14
thread - Uni 8/0 red
Tail - hackle fibers brown
body - Krystal Flash blue & tying thread
wing - Congo Hair white (original pattern calls for calf tail: I wanted a smaller wing tie in for this fly)
hackle - brown
Part 1
Mash down barb, start thread at 70% mark and create thread bump
pull off a bunch of hackle fibers, even tips and measure (shank length); tie in tail
fold over a piece of Krystal Flash and tie in tips (found it makes a better body if I wrap 2 at once)
wrap first 1/3 of body and tie off
use tying thread to form middle 1/3 of body
wrap final 1/3 of body with Krystal Flash, tie off and trim
First, thank you for posting all of these SBS patterns recently. I really enjoy looking at all of them.
Now, in relation to this specific pattern – does this fly actually catch fish for you? I suppose any fly will catch fish sometime, but if it does catch fish, under what conditions?
I’ve read Charlie Meck’s comments that this fly is the best thing since sliced bread, but I’ve always had the feeling that he exaggerates a bit.
Can you think of any fisherman who doesn’t exagerate a bit? I first started using this fly after buying his book Patterns, Hatches, Tactics and Trout back in the mid 90’s and I did have success, although maybe not to the extent that Charlie and his friends reported; possibly a function of my incompetence although re-reading sections in that book this morning, I detect a bit (again, we’re talking fishermen here) of hyperbole. It’s certainly not a seminal pattern like the Elk Hair Caddis, Crazy Charlie, Lefty’s Deceiver, etc. To tell the truth, I haven’t used one in years - for most of the water I fish, even if I tie it way overhackled, it becomes a wet fly after a few casts and that’s not what I’m looking for.
John, the Parachute Patriot has pretty much replaced the Royal Coachman as the bright condition, attractor of choice with the guides on the Au Sable (Michigan) to whom I have spoken. They use is and believe in it. I have used it both up there for trout and in Tennessee for pretty much everything. I tie it in sizes 10 and 12 for bluegills so they are less likely to swallow it too deeply. Bright day, bright fly - and the parachute patriot is a bright fly. Last year I met a co-worker on the Duck. There was a fish that my co-worker couldn’t raise, trying several flies, so I was invited to try with the parachute patriot I had on my tippet. As soon as I got a good drift over that fish, I had a strike and I hooked it.
I first started using this fly after buying his book 
