Stepping out of my comfort zone

[t1978d]

Originally Posted by Tuppsincomprehensible

The hackle should be tied around the post. the post should be the first thing tied when puting the fly together. You might find that if you use floss it lacks stability and as you wind the hackle around the post it will tend to flex and collapse. I find that if you take a piece of 3 strand white wool and unstand it to use a single strand it works very well. A lot of the manuals suggest using bucktail which works equally well.

I tied a few with floss, you're right about how it collapses, but if you get a good start it can remain in place to complete the hackle. But winding difficulties aside, the floss doesn't hinder the "fishibility" of the fly, does it?

[Alan B]

For a first attempt at a parachute that is a very good fly. When I tie parachutes I always form them without a head at all. This is not as difficult as it seems. Tie in your post, tails and body. For parachute posts I also use poly yarn of one kind or another. I tie the yarn in around the hook shank and secure in place with turns of thread. Like this (this is an example from the tying of a Klinkhammer).

How much yarn should you use? If you twist up the yarn into a tight rope then measure it against the eye of the hook it should be wider than the hole but no wider than the outside diameter of the eye. This is for a post where the yarn is doubled, so if you tie your post along the hook shank double it over.
Once you have tied in your body take the thread to the eye and dub back to the end of your body. Then tie in the hackle to the post, wind it and whip finish under the hackle around the post.

You may find it much easier to turn the fly so that the shank is vertical and the post horizontal.

Always wind the hackle so that each turn of hackle is made "under" the previous turn. That is between the previous turn and the hook shank.

Hope this helps. You have already discovered just how good parachute flies can be so keep trying.

Cheers,
Alan.

[barclay34]

Originally Posted by Albannach cuileag

This is my first ever attempt at both a real emerging dry and parachute hackle so don't be too brutal with the criticisms. I know already looking at it that the head is too big but in general?

looks like a good fly disappointing hackle though,
a bit heavy on the dubbing,

[.D.]

Originally Posted by Albannach cuileag

This is my first ever attempt at both a real emerging dry and parachute hackle so don't be too brutal with the criticisms. I know already looking at it that the head is too big but in general?

I don't think the body is too heavily dubbed - but that kind of depends on how you want it to fish.

What seems apparent from your image is that it has a high guard hair component. Nothing wrong with that () . You may find that such a body inhibits penetration of the surface film, if you are looking to achieve a "half-in, half out" sort of effect though.

I like Niche Siliconized Poly yarn or Aero Drywing for posts. I'd make it a little longer - my eyesight is pish.

.D.