Dry Flies
Dry Flies

Parachute Adams

The most versatile dry fly ever tied.

The Parachute Adams is arguably the most effective all-around dry fly in existence. Its gray body and mixed grizzly-brown hackle suggest a wide range of mayflies, making it a go-to searching pattern on any trout stream. The white parachute post provides excellent visibility in broken water and low light.

History & Lore

The original Adams was created by Leonard Halladay in 1922 for his friend Charles Adams on the Boardman River in Michigan. The parachute variation emerged in the 1970s, adding a horizontal hackle wrap around a white post for improved floatation and a more natural profile sitting in the surface film.

Variations

Hi-Vis Parachute Adams

Fluorescent orange or pink post for low-light visibility.

CDC Adams

CDC feather replaces calf hair post for enhanced floatation.

Female Adams

Yellow egg sac added to the rear of the body.

How to Fish It

Dead drift the Parachute Adams in riffles, seams, and eddy lines. It works as a prospecting fly when no hatch is visible, and during mayfly hatches it passes for BWOs, PMDs, and Callibaetis. Size down to #18-20 for pressured water.

When to Use

Year-round on any trout water. Especially effective during mixed mayfly hatches and as a searching pattern when nothing specific is hatching.

Materials

Hook
TMC 100, #12-20
Thread
Uni 8/0, gray
Tail
Moose body hair, dark
Body
Adams gray superfine dubbing
Post
White calf body hair
Hackle
Grizzly and brown dry fly hackle

Tying Video

Tying Steps

1

Secure hook in vise and start thread behind the eye, wrapping a smooth base to the bend.

💡 Use 8/0 thread for sizes 16+ to keep the profile slim.

2

Tie in a small bunch of moose body hair fibers for the tail, splaying them slightly.

💡 The tail should be approximately shank length.

3

Dub a thin, tapered body of Adams gray superfine dubbing forward to about 75% of the shank.

💡 Keep the dubbing tight — a slim body floats better than a bulky one.

4

Tie in a clump of white calf body hair as the parachute post, wrapping the base to stand it upright.

💡 Post thread wraps 6-8 turns up the post to stiffen it.

5

Tie in one grizzly and one brown hackle feather at the base of the post.

💡 Select hackle 1.5x the hook gap for proper float.

6

Wrap both hackles parachute-style around the base of the post, 3-4 turns each.

💡 Wrap the brown first, then the grizzly on top.

7

Secure hackle tips, trim waste, build a small thread head, and whip finish.

💡 A drop of head cement on the post base locks everything in place.

Frequently Asked Questions

What size Parachute Adams should I use?

The Parachute Adams is most commonly tied in sizes 12–20. Year-round on any trout water. Especially effective during mixed mayfly hatches and as a searching pattern when nothing specific is hatching.

What does a Parachute Adams imitate?

The Parachute Adams primarily imitates mayflies, BWOs, PMDs, Callibaetis. Dead drift the Parachute Adams in riffles, seams, and eddy lines. It works as a prospecting fly when no hatch is visible, and during mayfly hatches it

What materials do I need to tie a Parachute Adams?

Key materials include: Hook, Thread, Tail, Body, Post, Hackle. Tie a split-tail of moose body hair, dub a slim gray body, post white calf body hair, and wrap grizz

How do you fish a Parachute Adams?

Dead drift the Parachute Adams in riffles, seams, and eddy lines. It works as a prospecting fly when no hatch is visible, and during mayfly hatches it passes for BWOs, PMDs, and Callibaetis. Size down to #18-20 for pressured water.

Pattern Details

Category
Dry Flies
Sizes
12–20
Colors
Gray, Olive, Black
Hook Styles
Standard dry fly, 1x fine wire
Imitates
mayflies, BWOs, PMDs, Callibaetis
Water Types
freestone, tailwater, spring creek
Origin
Leonard Halladay, 1922 (parachute variation, 1970s)

Target Species

rainbow troutbrown troutbrook troutcutthroat trout