How to Fly Tie a Mayfly

The mayfly is composed of a tail, abdomen, thorax and legs. Gills and wing pads are present on the submerged nymph form and the adult has two wings. The insect is available in warm and cold water environments, but is primarily used as a food source for trout. Fly fisherman tie numerous patterns to imitate the different mayfly varieties and stages in the life cycle. The parachute dry fly is one common pattern that imitates the emerging adult.

Things You'll Need

  • Vise
  • Dry fly hook #12-18
  • 8/0 black thread
  • Grizzly hackle feather
  • White calf hair
  • Synthetic dry fly dubbing
  • Head cement
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Instructions

    • 1

      Lock the lower hook bend in the vise. Start the thread at the top of the hook bend by making four wraps and overlapping those with an additional four wraps. Cut the loose end of the thread off the hook.

    • 2

      Cut seven grizzly hackle fibers from a feather. Measure the fibers to match the hook length and hold on the bend of the hook. Make seven thread wraps to secure the hackle fibers as the tail. Cut the base of the fibers off the hook.

    • 3

      Wrap the thread two-thirds the distance up the hook shank. Cut a small clump of white calf hair from a section of hide. Measure the hair to match the hook length and hold the measured point on the hook. Make 10 firm thread wraps to hold the hair. Cut the base of the calf hair off the hook.

    • 4

      Lift the tips of the calf hair into a vertical direction. Wrap the thread on each side of the hair until it holds the position. Wrap the thread horizontally around the base of the hair to secure the vertical post position.

    • 5

      Wrap the thread to the hook bend. Pinch a thin layer of synthetic dry fly dubbing against the thread. Twist the dubbing in your fingers to spin it in a tight pattern. Wrap the dubbing from the bend to the base of the post.

    • 6

      Trim the base fibers off a grizzly hackle feather. Hold the base section of the stem against the base of the post. Wrap the thread horizontally to secure the stem to the post.

    • 7

      Add another thin layer of dubbing to the thread. Wrap the dubbing until you reach the hook eye. Wrap the hackle feather horizontally around the base of the post. Make six full turns of hackle. Wrap the thread over the hackle six times at the hook eye and cut the excess feather off the hook.

    • 8

      Place a small drop of head cement on the thread at the hook eye. Wait one minute for the cement to dry and cut the thread off the hook.