How to Tie an Isonychia Parachute

Producer: Tim Flagler

Isonychia Parachute
Hook: 1X-long dry-fly hook (e.g. Dai-Riki #300), sizes 10-14.
Thread: Olive, 6/0.
Post: White calf-body hair, cleaned and stacked.
Tail: Moose body hair.
Abdomen: Burgundy, black, and gray rabbit fur, mixed.
Hackle: Medium dun neck hackle.
Thorax/head: Burgundy, black, and gray rabbit fur, mixed.

Anglers refer to Isonychia mayflies by many names—Mahogany Dun, Slate Drake, and Leadwing Coachman, among others—and these large insects are among the more important sporadically hatching bugs in the East and Midwest. Rarely do  Isonychia emerge in the kinds of blanket hatches that make sulfurs and caddisflies so exciting, but they do hatch in light numbers almost every evening for much of the season, especially after the big-name hatches have ended. Although these bugs are generally not as important in the West, there are localized populations.

In this how-to video from Tightline Productions, fly tier and author Matt Grobert demonstrates his easy method for creating this useful pattern. The ways that Matt creates the post and uses the moose body hair to make both wing and rear of the body are very cool, but it’s especially ingenious the way he finishes the fly. Even if you live in a region where Isonychia is not important, the tricks on display here will help you tie better Parachute patterns of any kind.