Adams Dry Fly

This pattern is credited to the American Len Halliday of Michigan and dates from 1922. It is fished in New Zealand as a mayfly. This is a pattern that every angler should have in his fly box. It represents numerous different coloured and shaped mayflies and is designed to float on the water’s surface.

The closely related Parachute Adams is the same fly with a tuft of white or yellow calf tail on the top which causes the fly to settle more gently on the water, as well as making it more visible to the angler.

This is a bit harder to tie than the original version. It basically requires the tyer to fix a tuft of calf tail above the insect’s body. Then wrap the thread around the bottom of this. Apply glue to hold it firm and pointed upwards. Finally, wrap hackle around the base of the calf tail parachute before completing dubbed body and tying off.

The pattern is regularly tied nowadays with a variety of modern materials such as Antron fibres to add subtle sparkle to the body. Colours also vary with brown hackles and fur being mixed in.