Parachutes?

[Fishin LA]

Hey guys, i recently went on a one dayer to a local creek. Wild fish were rising everywhere and taking bwo's off the surface. I repeatedly threw a parachute BWO at them without any luck. I then switched to a parachute adams and had similiar results. I had a few nudges, but nothing was really taking them. The second i switched to a classic adams, i started killing them. When i lost that, i used a yellow humy w/o a parachute and continued to catch fish. Has anyone else had any experience with fish rejecting fly's with parachutes?

[darrin terry]

Yeah, it happens. Just means the fish want the dry not the emerger, which is after all what a parachute style is.

[NorcalBob]

As Darrin said, the more arrows (flies) you have in your quiver (vest), the better your chances of success in finding something the fish want to eat. However, I must say I catch far more fish on parachute patterns than I do on traditional dries. In fact, I rarely tye traditional dry flies any longer. I always fish parachute dries as my first choice!

[rayfound]

As Darrin said, the more arrows (flies) you have in your quiver (vest), the better your chances of success in finding something the fish want to eat. However, I must say I catch far more fish on parachute patterns than I do on traditional dries. In fact, I rarely tye traditional dry flies any longer. I always fish parachute dries as my first choice!

I'm in the same boat, at least for terrestrials, adams, BWO.... But I will say I have a few flies that the Parachute version is not nearly as good, for whatever reason. I can, for the life of me, catch a fish on a parachute Royal Wulff, but the Standards is a go-to attractor pattern for me....You know what, maybe I don't have a handful, maybe just the one... but seriously, Para Royal Wulffs are worthless as far as I'm concerned.

[tyingfool]

As Bob said all I tie are para's.It is my go-to fly.Size 18 para anything.

David

[Flyjunkie]

Oh yeah, I've noticed plenty of times that Trout will refuse a Parachute but take a traditional version.. Various reasons why this happens..: as already mentioned the trout are not on Emergers but full blown adults.. (thought Parachutes also imitate Drowned Duns and do a fair imitation of Spinners at times). Traditionals work well imitating Duns trying to fly away and the Trout see them as Food getting away, so they move at them faster at times. I fish Traditional Dryflies often and continue to get action with them... a Must have in My humble opinion.

I'd Strongly recommend getting a copy of Gary LaFontaine's "Must Read" tome The Dry Fly, New Angles and read it carefully and repeatedly. Gary offers up alot of Sound and solid information regarding dryflies and the entire Book will Radically Improve Your overall fishing... Certainly a Book that belongs in Every Flyfishers Library..

[Fishin LA]

Thanks for the info everyone.Im heading out next weekend and will let you know how i do.

[Papasequoia]

I sometimes tie on two dries, at least one of them either a parachute or a larger fly of some kind so that I can see the smaller, trailing fly. Basically, the larger and/or parachute fly is like an indicator. I find it hard to see smaller, non-parachute flies, so that is what works for me. Jon

[dna]

What about when you are staring at 20+ inch fish rising everywhere and you try your whole box of dries, both parachute and trad, and they refuse everything...? I usually cry myself to sleep that night in my sleeping bag...

I agree with Bob. I almost always tye parachutes and they are my go to especially in the adams version. Although, I do keep enough traditionals for the occasion as Dean stated.

Don't give up on the parachutes! It is most likely you are getting better drifts with the traditionals for whatever reason or the aforementioned thought that the fish are keying in on a certian stage.

[Flyjunkie]

What about when you are staring at 20+ inch fish rising everywhere and you try your whole box of dries, both parachute and trad, and they refuse everything...? I usually cry myself to sleep that night in my sleeping bag...

I tye on a Streamer and give the Big one it's desired "Steak & Potatoes"....

[stanbery]

What about when you are staring at 20+ inch fish rising everywhere and you try your whole box of dries, both parachute and trad, and they refuse everything...? I usually cry myself to sleep that night in my sleeping bag...

I tye on a Streamer and give the Big one it's desired "Steak & Potatoes"....

Same here.

Jon

[dna]

you might as well tye on a panther martin and call it a day...hehe



only kidding. streamers rule!

[midger]

It's all good. On any given day, any fly is likely to be cold or hot, but I will grant that one will consistently catch larger fish on streamers/minnow imitations than you will on dries, nymphs, or midge patterns. Just depends on whether you want numbers or trophies, eh?

I also like parachute patterns, but often find that a different stage of the bugs will be more effective. Watch the riseforms. No trout snouts breaking the surface? Surface dries won't be as effective as the trout are feeding subsurface on emergers or pupating larva like an RS2, zebra, Cripple, etc.

Full trout snouts--switch to a spinner pattern like a standard dry or parachute. Just my opinion, but it works for me.

And if you want the biggies, throw a nice big streamer at the undercut banks early or late in the day.

[209er]

Randy, don't even think about it! 209er

[Rollincast]

Randy, don't even think about it! 209er

Sorry, Cliff. Already dug out the Bunny Leaches. See ya Wed.

Randy