Old Blue

Tied by Randy Lage

Recipe:

• #16 Dry Fly Hook w/mashed barb
• 8/0 Gray thread
• Cover Hook With thread base
• Tie in Grizzly and brown Tail Fibers at bend
• 2 inches of blue yarn, divided into 4 pieces (Lion brand, quick & easy mohair look, heather blue color available at most yarn and fabric stores) 100% acrylic and also available in a nice grass green.  135 yds/$2.!!
• Take 1 piece and tie it in at bend
• Run thread to front ¼ back from eye
• Tie in post either Hi-Vis or White Poly
• Figure 8 the base of the post until it is firm
• Wrap yarn forward past post to eye of hook and tie off.
  • Be sure not to wrap too tightly, as you DO want to show fibers.  Tease if necessary.
• Trim butts of grizzly and brown hackles
• Tie in Hackles at bottom of post
• Wind 3-4 wraps of both hackles and tie off on post with whip finish.
  • Note: I rotate vise 90 degrees and wrap as shown in photo below.

Fishing Notes:

• This pattern is sort of an attractor fly.  It is probably best in stained or cloudy water.
• It has performed well all over in lots of different watersheds much like all other Adam’s Patterns.
• I am amazed at how many good tiers avoid tying parachute patterns, mostly due to whip finishing when tying off at the eye.  Hackles get in the way and the fly looks sloppy.  I found that by rotating the vise ¼ turn and working facing forward, I could wind the hackle easily and whip finish on the post.

  ---