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The Best Anglers Never Stop Learning

The Best Anglers Never Stop Learning

Dry

Extended Body Isonychia Parachute

Insect Species Icon Isonychia, Mahogany Dun, March Brown
Difficulty Icon Hard - 7-10 Min
Water Category Icon Coldwater

Tying Video

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Tying Recipe
  • Hook: Scud/emerger 1x fine 2x short down eye size #12
  • Thread: UTC 70 denier blue dun
  • Tail: Moose hair
  • Extended body: Clear small stretch tubing covered in Spirit River UV2 fine and dry isonychia
  • Body: Spirit River UV2 fine and dry isonychia
  • Post: Para post wing light grey
  • Hackle: Dry fly hackle medium dun
  • Special Tools: Sewing needle
  • Hook: Any curved emerger hook will work. If you want a finer wire, try a small klinkhamer hook.
  • Thread: Any thin thread will work, go as thin as you like, but try not to go above 8/0 or 70 denier, as it will add unneeded bulk to the body. Match the thread color to the hackle color.
  • Tail: Coq-de-Leon makes for a great tail that will be quite a bit thinner. If you want that thicker tail but no moose, try dark elk hair.
  • Extended body: Clear small stretch tubing is the best way to get the extended body, but feel free to use any brown dry fly dubbing that you like.
  • Body: Match the color of the body with the color of the tail.
  • Post: Para post is great, but McFlyon parachute post and polypropylene are great substitutes.
  • Hackle: Use any dun colored dry fly hackle that you like.

The only thing that can really be changed up on this fly is the coloration and size. Try extended body BWOs, PMDs and sulfurs!

This is an ultra realistic fly pattern that is great for matching the hatch over gin clear water. The extended body will lift up above the surface of the water, just like the tail of an actual adult mayfly getting ready to take off from the water. This allows this fly to imitate adults on the surface with incredible accuracy for picky trout.

Fish this fly either as a single dry fly, or the tag fly on a double dry fly rig. If fishing a double dry, consider sizing this fly down to a #16 or #18 for those days when the small bugs are out. Be sure to float this fly high for best results, and to be sure that the fly lands right side up.

Isonychia

Regional Hatch Chart Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec
Region: East
Isonychia
Sizes: #12 - #18
Region: Southeast
Isonychia
Sizes: #12 - #18
Region: Midwest
Isonychia
Sizes: #12 - #18

Mahogany Dun

Regional Hatch Chart Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec
Region: West, Northwest
Mahogany Dun
Sizes: #14 - #20
Region: East, Midwest
Mahogany Dun
Sizes: #14 - #20

March Brown

Regional Hatch Chart Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec
Region: West, East
March Brown
Sizes: #10 - #14
Region: Northwest
March Brown
Sizes: #10 - #14
Region: Midwest
March Brown
Sizes: #10 - #14

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