Whilst (at least for some of us) we are seeing the mayfly appear and the trout start to re-educate themselves into a feeding frenzy, the fish on my local river still tackle the olives that seem to trickle off nearly all day. Therefore, until the fish are properly tuned in on the Danicas, I usually fish a more delicate pattern.

Here is a favourite when the fish are taking olive duns (and even spinners) - the Pearsalls Paradun

Hook: Varivas 2100 Standard Dry 18 - 12
Abdomen: Pearsall’s Silk
Thorax: Fine dubbing
Tails: Microfibbets
Wing: Tan TMC aerodry
Thread: Danville’s Spiderweb
Hackle: Honey Cock

I’ve broken this SBS into two sections so I can post all the photos, including the tie-in of the parachute post…So apologies for the length - I hope it makes sense…

1) Catch in the spider web


2) Select three microfibbets for the tails and snip the from the pack


3) Tie in the microfibbets, taking the thread to the start of the bend. Adjust the length so that the tails are approximately the length of the fly’s body


4) With the tails in place, use your dubbing needle to puch the tails from behind. This will help them to splay apart. Help them to separate and form a forked tail


5) The tails should be nicely splayed now


6) Drop a single wrap of spider web between each tail to secure. I’ve coloured them with a marker so you can see the tips more closely


7) Catch in the end of the Pearsall’s silk - position it so that you will be winding it forwards from the tails…


I’m using the Pearsall’s in a bobbin. You can of course just cut a length which will make the winding easier - but I prefer the to not limit how much I can use for the body, with the minimum of waste (worth any inconvenience in my mind).

Now I wing the fly…here’s my preferred method I use with all my parachute hackles…

8) I like to form the wing before winding the silk body - this allows you to form a tapered body more successfully. Take the spider web through to the position you require the wing. Hold the TMC against the thread under the shank.


9) Pick up the thread with the TMC…


10) Take the TMC to the top of the shank and rotate 180o…


11) Lift the wing up either side of the fly and hold…


12) Secure with the spider web, with a couple around the post to keep it secure.


13) Wax the Pearsall’s


14) Wind the silk to form the body. Try to create a gentle taper.


15) Take the thread to the eye and use a marker to darken the thread - form a head now - since the whip finish will be under the parachute


You can leave this out if you wish - just dub the head instead. I like the appearance of a head though.

16) Add small amount of dubbing of the thread…


And dub out the thorax keeping it slim…

__________________
Dave Wiltshire

River Fly Box

17) Select a suitable hackle - I am using honey cock here - and tie in against the post.



18) Wind the hackle - I think no more than two turns to keep it sparse…


19) whip finish under the wing and add a small amount of head cement


20) Trim the Wing and you have the finished Pearsall’s Paradun…


Fish eye view…


Sorry for the long step-by-step. It’s much easier to tie than it suggests…

This is a simple, sparse fly for when the fish are on the olives. Lots of choices here - change silk colour, wing colour, hook size and hackle to match the hatch.

Hope you like it.

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Dave Wiltshire

River Fly Box

very nice! and ive always thought that to many flies on the forums are catching more anglers than fish,, i think yours will catch fish! and thats all you can ask aint it,, good pics too, keep up the good work ,i keep saying ill do one and never do ,but my boy wants me to do one now as he was very lucky on the forum to get a lovely vice and materials from fish wife,, and he wants us to do one together so i will need to do it over the next week or so

try reducing pic size abit

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dont you just love nature

Glad you like the pattern. Try it out - it works a treat.

The more patterns shared the better - have a go at the SBS. It would be good to see what you put together.

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Dave Wiltshire

River Fly Box

Nice fly Dave. When you fish them do you apply any floatant? I am not up to speed on river flies. I fish dries on reservoirs but predominantly a bob's bits. This just gets a touch of gink on the hackle to sit it in the surface. I guess this para dun is to sit on the surface. Cheers, Mark

Mark,

The fly should sit on the surface with the tails and the hackle tips giving the correct imprint on the surface. I still use a tiny amount of floatant, switching between Orvis' floatant and mucillin. Use only a tiny amount on the hackles, TMC winf and the tails. Try to keep it away from the silk body.

Most importantly, degrease the tippet.

If you try it, let me know how you get on

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Dave Wiltshire

River Fly Box

looks fantastic mate, where do you get your fibbets from?

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Till The Next Cast

Cheers

JOHN



Some Fishing photos!!

http://s59.photobucket.com/albums/g3...t=71c37867.pbr

Cheers JS. I use two different types, depending on the fly I'm tying. These in the photos are from Orvis - very fine fibbets for delicate presentation. You only need to touch the pen on them if you want to colour them.

Alternatively I use 'Realistic Tails' from Paul Whillock. They are a little thicker and great for flies of#12 and above - ie Danica patterns.

Paul's versions need to be ordered from his website. Other fibbets are available from most decent retailers - give Lakeland of Flytec a try.

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Dave Wiltshire

River Fly Box

Will do I think Lakeland might be up at Scone if they are Ill get some brought up.

__________________
Till The Next Cast

Cheers

JOHN



Some Fishing photos!!

http://s59.photobucket.com/albums/g3...t=71c37867.pbr

If you don't have any luck there, then take a look at this link...

http://www.paulwhillock.com/shop/index.html

I know there have been a few issues with ordering directly off the site, but that may be fixed now. If not, then drop Paul an email and I'm sure he'll sort you out.

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Dave Wiltshire

River Fly Box