What Are Parachute Dry Flies?
– Dry flies tied “parachute-style” have been around for approximately 75 years. The primary attribute that distinguishes (for lack of a better term) a standard from a parachute dry fly is that standard dry flies have hackle wound vertically around the hook shank; whereas a parachute-style has hackle wound horizontally on top of the hook shank. Most, but not all, parachute-style dries have a single wing generally made of calf tail or some type of feather. A few of the larger parachute flies do use deer or elk hair for the wing. The “wing” is posted (wound with tying thread to keep upright and add ‘stiffness’) at the base where the hackle is then wound horizontally. [Note: For a more “delicate” appearance and a material a bit easier to use than calf-tail, many tyers, most notably, A.K. Best (see If You’re Gonna Jump Into Dry Flies, You Might Want A Parachute), utilize white or dun colored Turkey Flats – 3″ – 8″ feathers from the back of a turkey that have tips (that part used for tying)
