Tying a Parachute Adams - with a marshmallow twist

[@warrenchester8467]

Thanks Matt. Loved this. Been thinking quite a lot about it and IMHO tying videos are best when the Venn diagram intersects a fly that looks good, is practical to use and is likely to catch fish. You nailed it with this one. Best. W

[@SavageFlies]

Warren- this is the best comment I've seen on here in a long time! I'm kind of a science nerd and just thinking about a Venn diagram of fly patterns made me put down my phone and go get on my computer so I could respond. :-) I might have to come up with a cool Venn graphic with this concept. And then figure out where some of the most popular flies would go. I love it! Thanks for the inspiration!!

[@warrenchester8467]

Let the science nerds of the world unite. Finished my BSc about 35 years ago, spent my life almost ever since working in business and whenever anyone asks I still say I’m an engineer.

[@escomag]

Interesting. A venn diagram for flies? We tie these things to fool other biological lifeforms. I think of a venn diagram as relating to ideas,or machines. Show me the diagram of why the fish are feeding, but I can't figure out on what.

[@alloutdoorsnovascotia8791]

Wow funny you would use that book I jist borrowed it from my local library yesterday. Great fly.

[@SavageFlies]

Thanks Robert! It's a nice little book to tie out of. :-)

[@donaldblough7206]

I subscribe to probably half a dozen sites that tie flies but your site is always the first I go to and more often than not the only one I end up watching. I love your commentary and the way you tie. Thanks for taking the time to make your videos. 👍

[@SavageFlies]

Wow Donald, thank you for these kind words! Comments like these are what keep me going when it's getting late and I need to be in bed, but I just have to get a video done. Even spending a few extra minutes researching the history is worth it when folks out there appreciate it. So thank you again my friend. :-)

[@howardmceachern6614]

Matt, this is a different variation of the Adams. I will tie a couple for my box this weekend. Thanks again for all of your time and effort and great material.

[@SavageFlies]

You're most welcome Howard! Appreciate the note my friend. :-)

[@rickbaker4407]

Thanks Matt. Excellent tie for a fly that everyone should have in their box. One thing to try instead of your whip finish. I've been using foam posts for some dries and if you will put a dab of Zap A Gap on your thread and do maybe two or three wraps with no whip finish, you will find it holds up just fine. Been doing that on posted flies for a while and have yet to have one come undone or unwrapped if the Zap A Gap (or any CA glue you use) is applied to your thread. No knot needed and easier to work under the hackle. If it does come unwrapped, I've probably lost the fly in a rhododendron by that time anyway! Keep up the good work!

[@tompeterson559]

It's always great to see flies tied with alternate materials! I also am always encouraged when a fly fishable vs. perfect, because I know how many of mine - 99.99 percent of them - are fishable, not perfect! Thank you for this video.

[@SavageFlies]

Hahaha! Then you're going to love Tuesday's pattern Tom. It's another far-from-perfect one. :-)

[@davehall2160]

Gorgeous looking fly, Matt Thanks for the video, and I hope you have a great weekend

[@SavageFlies]

Appreciate it Dave! Hope you're having a great week too my friend. :-)

[@joutdoorsmen23]

Nice job Matt, i hope the weather breaks and warms up some I’m ready to get out and try some of these flies you have been showing us thanks again for what you do!!!!!!!

[@SavageFlies]

You're most welcome! We got a decent break in the weather today. Bitter cold on Saturday but up in the 50s today. Hopefully next weekend will be as nice. :-)

[@jeffreystone7327]

I love the fact that this will be a good floater. These old eyes need every advantage they can get these days. Great tie Matt. Thanks for sharing this one buddy. Have an awesome weekend.

[@SavageFlies]

You and me both Jeffrey!

[@leemowers9395]

Nice Marshmallow fly, thanks for sharing Matt.

[@SavageFlies]

Hahaha! It does look tasty Lee. :-)

[@wd4477]

Good work. Been out of the loop for a bit, but I'm back now. Glad to see you still creating great videos

[@SavageFlies]

Appreciate it Wes! And welcome back my friend. :-)

[@laytonmarvin3790]

Nice, It looks a little easier with the foam post, I will have to grab so foam and give it a go. Thanks Matt for sharing

[@SavageFlies]

You bet Layton! Appreciate the note my friend. :-)

[@edwardchavez5627]

Good Morning Sir Matt, super cool 😎 fly this morning and I never tied a foam post and of course I don't have any so I'll have to order some. LOL 😆 great job Matt 👏

[@SavageFlies]

Hahaha! Here you go Edward: amzn.to/40tiooq

[@bigdaddy99929]

Very cool looking fly. I’ve never tied one with foam. Will do so this year. Thx Matt!

[@SavageFlies]

Thanks Clyde! Appreciate the note my friend. :-)

[@diecastrejuvenation7779]

The Parachute Adams has always been my nemesis. For some reason, I can never get a decent one tied. Maybe the foam will be the breakthrough for me! Thanks Matt!

[@SavageFlies]

Good luck with it Troy! All parachute posts have been my nemesis. I still love to fish them, but tying them is a different story. :-)

[@marshallbaldwin8960]

This is outstanding! Thanks for this variation to the Adams. Thank you Sir Matt!

[@SavageFlies]

You're most welcome Marshall! Appreciate the note my friend. :-)

[@barbaraemerich1921]

Great fly Matt!! I’m going to put this one in the vise!!

[@SavageFlies]

Appreciate it Barbara! Have fun. :-)

[@FlyTyer1948]

Heh. First thought on seeing the thumbnail for this video - why is Matt using a marshmallow for the post on a parachute Adams? Would it become a drowned spinner when the marshmallow dissolved? I just finished tying 2 dozen regular Adams today. Thanks for the reminder that that I should also tie some parachutes as well. What size is that foam cylinder?

[@SavageFlies]

Thanks Bob! This was a 3mm (from Amazon). Wapsi has them down to 1/8 inch (~3mm), but the smallest J. Stockard had in stock the last I checked was 1/4 inch (about 6mm). Which can make good bodies, but too think for posts.

[@earlgaumer8747]

Cool looking fly, Matt!

[@SavageFlies]

Thanks Earl! Appreciate the note my friend. :-)

[@charlieboutin3341]

That’s an interesting combination..looks like something I’d put together.😂 I’ve been tying up some natural material dry flies, but definitely will try this. You know me..whatever catches fish..besides bait. Love the visibility aspect. I saw comment about Venn diagram, and had to look that up, but think that is a Great idea. I kind of do it without knowing it, pick 2 flies and try to combine the things I like into one, and some work extremely well. Look forward to anything you come up with referring to that. Have a great weekend Matt! Thanks for everything you do! 👍👍👌🎣

[@SavageFlies]

Appreciate it Charlie! I'll be playing around with how to work a Venn diagram into a future video. :-)

[@jimholland1592]

Hey Matt, that is brilliant and nicely done. Sorry about being late just got in from the fly fishing show it was great!

[@SavageFlies]

No worries Jim! It sounds like you had a great time. :-)

[@Loyalist-ul6qm]

Fantastic my friend all the best.

[@SavageFlies]

Thanks! Appreciate the note my friend. :-)

[@joeduca8582]

Cool, some s'mores for trout ;o) My parachute posts always slanted forward with calf tail or body hair. Nice tutorial, stay warm, insanely cold this weekend. Thanks Matt!

[@SavageFlies]

Yes indeed Joe! I just finished Tuesday's video. You're going to love the history of it. Or the history of how I found it. The thing is a Ray Bergman original DRY FLY. I found in a 1940 issue of Outdoor Life that I picked up at an antique store. Nobody will have heard of this one. :-)

[@proflyfisher]

Thanks Matt! The foam is definitely easier than the calf hair. Thanks for sharing. 😀

[@SavageFlies]

You bet Jim! Appreciate the note my friend. :-)

[@johnnylightning1491]

Yep, this will forever be known to me as the marshmallow fly. I like the foam post both for visibility and that fly will never sink. A friend of mine ties a foam hex fly that you could fish all night (yes we fished at night on the Ausable in Michigan). Keep the good stuff coming Matt.

[@SavageFlies]

Man Dave, I have still got to get up to the Ausable. Or Au Sable, whichever it is. :-)

[@TheCopperVillageAngler]

Nicely done!

[@SavageFlies]

Thanks Ralph! Appreciate the note my friend. :-)

[@alc609]

Great pattern

[@truckingoff6681]

Matt can you show us your fly box or boxes. I bet they are awesome

[@peteyarrington582]

Hi Matt - I just finished a bunch of Parachute Adams for this year's Tie-A-Thon. Also did some Black Woolly Buggers with fluorescent bead heads, and some Flashback Hare's Ear Nymphs. Anyway, I wish I had seen this video before I did the Adams! That foam post would make it a good fly for beginners, I assume its about unsinkable, and very visible. I do my parachute procedure a little different. After I attach the post and tail and dub the whole body, I reposition the hook in vise so the body is vertical and the post horizontal. Then I tie in the hackles on the post, wrap them, and then whip finish on the post like you do. Man that repositioning the hook has made my parachutes so much easier. Maybe its because I'm left handed (kidding)

[@FlyTyer1948]

Pete, if you tie more more black Woollys, try putting 2 or 3 wraps of chartreuse chenille at the rear before starting the black chenille then tie the rest as usual. A fishing buddy told me about it & it does improve the number of takes. -Bob

[@peteyarrington582]

@@FlyTyer1948 Thanks! I use a lot of buggers myself, and am always looking for good modifications. I'll try it!

[@SavageFlies]

Thanks Pete! I typically rearrange mine in the vise too, but was trying to do this one quickly. I'm not sure if I saved any time but maybe a few seconds. :-)

[@tonygarrett601]

I might need to try this one I stopped using calf’s tail and started using polypropylene yarn several years ago this should float way better

[@SavageFlies]

Go for it Tony! I still use the polypropylene or para-post on most of mine.

[@goldenvise]

I tied up a few "top hat" emergers using a foam post like that. They didn't float all that well. I probably needed a thicker cylinder. I've got so many different parachutes right now, and I think the poly fiber is pretty buoyant itself, so I dunno if I'll tie any of these. I do tie a lot of foam flies though, and it's usually a lot of fun to work with.

[@SavageFlies]

Yeah, I hear you. The synthetic para-post stuff is pretty buoyant. As for this foam, I think some fast water will probably sink it a little, but I imagine it'll come back to the surface pretty well.

[@Jd-yc3gw]

Good morning Matt. ☕️time. The timing of your choice is impeccable. Our club is doing the Parachute Adams next Saturday so I will be able to give both versions a try. I noticed that you didn’t wrap up the post as far as a person would when using Antron for the post. I’m thinking because the foam is rigid enough to stand up without help but would some more thread at the base make tying in the hackle easier? It didn’t look too difficult in the video but you make many techniques look pretty easy 😄. Take care my friend. Have a great weekend. Need another ☕️.

[@SavageFlies]

Ha! Thanks John. I did one of my practice flies like you mentioned, by taking a few extra wraps up the post and it ended up not being too necessary (and it made it a little harder.) Envision wrapping up a calf tail post, you don't have to pull the thread too tight to get a nice base. But with the foam, you had to hold the post with your non-tying hand, and put some fairly tight wraps going up, and every wrap you have to let go of the post to get your thread around it, and then grab it again. And I was just making a mess of it. :-)

[@harryjoesather6539]

hey matt could you tie in the tail first and then run the thread up the shank to hold the foam in place just wondering.....thanks .. see ya joe...just my thought.....so it dont roll around the hook.

[@jeffjackson5331]

Neat looking fly

[@toddslichter7831]

Great use of foam cylinders. I use poly for my posts, but will have to try foam. Thanks for sharing, Matt. Have a great weekend. So I am heading to one of my local rivers to do a bit of steelhead fishing...you coming out this year? 😎

[@SavageFlies]

Ahhh.... I want to Todd! But I've never even been steelhead fishing. Is there a spring season up your way? I checked some drive times back in the fall and I can make it to upstate NY in a day's drive. :-)

[@toddslichter7831]

@@SavageFlies it runs until April 30th. You have nearly three months to get here. 😎

[@markchristensen3371]

Thanks Matt. Love the Adams variation. Did you mention where you got the posts?

[@SavageFlies]

Thanks Mark! I got some of the Wapsi ones from J. Stockard, but these 3mm ones were from Amazon. amzn.to/3DMi0I5

[@andrewwebster13]

Cool! That’s dry dropper worthy

[@SavageFlies]

Absolutely Andrew! Appreciate the note my friend. :-)

[@markfritch3168]

Nice fly. Easy to see I’ll bet. Hmmm I never tried tying a fly with marshmallow. And marshmallow does float. Have to call it the gooey fly lol. Seriously thanks for your tutorial. Warmest regards.

[@SavageFlies]

Hahaha, thanks Mark! Appreciate the note my friend. :-)

[@randymorris8740]

One thing's for sure, it should float all day long... 😁

[@SavageFlies]

Yep Randy, probably not a high floater, but we should be able to see it. :-)

[@drewzimmer7357]

I like it! What is the background music?

[@SavageFlies]

I think this song was "Future King of Heaven" by Zachariah Hickman. It's one of the royalty free songs KZbin lets you use. kzbin.info/www/bejne/bYjNfGB_fbKmZ5I

[@rollinlapoint4554]

Definitely will float!

[@SavageFlies]

Absolutely! Appreciate the note my friend. :-)

[@MyItalians]

Not sure! Love the concept but I have a hard time with tradition posts. Where did you get the foam cylinders from? Like the color arrangement.

[@SavageFlies]

I got some of the Wapsi ones from J. Stockard, but that pack I showed was from Amazon: amzn.to/40tiooq

[@brhino1017]

You should name this fly the "Stay Puft". Cool fly Matt!

[@SavageFlies]

Hahaha! I love it. :-)

[@escomag]

Hmm, well I don't know. I am not a complete traditionalist, I use foam for a few of my patterns but a fly needs to look nice, and a parachute Adams is such a classic fly. If it ain't broke don't fix it.

[@SavageFlies]

Yep, I can't argue with that logic! But Gathercole did have it in his book so I imagine a few people out there have done this classic fly with some foam. (But I'm like you, I don't mind spending an extra minute to keep it fairly original.)

[@krisko4653]

Matt i have an idea make a video how you tie the royal wolf its story is very nice and i think others will like it because i have seen you make carolina wolf but you didn't make the royal wolf 🎣🤠

[@SavageFlies]

You know Kris, you're right! I can't believe I haven't done one yet. I've done the regular Royal Coachman which is definitely a fun tie. But I haven't done the Royall Wulff. I'll put that on the list soon. :-)