Hi Guys,
This is my first post on the forum. I am based in Cape Town, South Africa and mainly fish our streams for wild rainbow and brown trout. I developed this pattern over the last year or so and find it works very well for selective fish. In size 18 and smaller it's a good midge imitation and if you tie it on 12 - 16's it makes a good crippled mayfly imitation. You can also retrieve it using short strips during a caddis hatch. I don't seem to be able to get all the pics in so shout if you want more details on the tying.
Regards,
Darryl Lampert
Hook: Grip 11011BL Size 18 or Grip 14723BL Size 20
Thread: Gordon Griffiths Sheer Thread 14/0 – black or colour to match CDC
Post: Antron or Poly Yarn – fl orange or colour of choice
Body: CDC Feather – black or colour of choice
Step1: Start at the hook eye and run the thread about a third of the way down the shank
Step2: Tie in your post at this point – no need to wrap up the post as you would for a normal parachute fly, although I find that a slight wrap up the post makes it easier to palmer the CDC without catching the post fibres.
Step 3: Run the thread down to the end of the shank
Step 4: Take a CDC feather and stroke the fibres so that they are at a 90 degree angle to the stalk. Do the same with a second feather and then place them one on top of the other.
Step 5: Clamp the one side of the two feathers using a bulldog clip, leaving about 5mm between the feather stalk and the edge of the clip.
Step 6: Using a sharp pair of scissors, cut the barbs off the feather as close to the stalk as possible.
Step 7: Spin the bobbin in an anti-clockwise direction until the thread starts to flatten. You can also pinch the thread between your thumb nail and index finger and run your nail over the thread a couple of times to help flatten it.
Step 8: Split the thread in half using a dubbing needle (I use a large embriodery needle) and hold the dubbing loop open using your finger.
Step 9: Place the end of the feather barbs into the dubbing loop and then pull down gently on the bobbin to lock the feathers in place.
Step 10: Gently spin your bobbin in a clockwise direction until the CDC fibres are well trapped and splayed in all directions.
Step 11: Now palmer the CDC forward and around the parachute post to the eye of the fly and tie off.
Step 12: The finished fly should look very rough and buggy.
Step 13: For faster/rougher water, use more CDC to create a bulkier fly, which will float better.
