Isonychia Parachute
Isonychia bicolor — the Slate Drake — is one of the largest hatching mayflies in the East, and the parachute version of its imitation is an exceptional producer. The wine-red body and dark wing stand out as a large, visible target, and the parachute post keeps it flat in fast water. Isonychia hatch sporadically throughout the season but peak in late summer to fall, triggering aggressive surface takes from the biggest trout in the pool.
- Type
- dry fly (Mayfly)
- Hook sizes
- #10–14
- Target species
- trout
- Difficulty
- intermediate
- Best seasons
- spring, summer, fall
Materials
- hook: Dry fly hook #10–14
- thread: Wine or maroon 6/0
- tail: Dark dun hackle fibers
- body: Maroon or wine-red dubbing
- post: White or orange poly yarn
- hackle: Dark dun rooster hackle, parachute style
Tying steps
- Mount a size 10–14 dry fly hook; start wine-colored thread at the bend.
- Tie in dark dun hackle fibers as a tail.
- Dub a maroon or wine-red body to the 3/4 mark.
- Tie in white or orange poly yarn post upright and make 5–6 base wraps to stand it.
- Tie in gray or dark mallard quill wing segments upright and divided.
- Attach a dark dun hackle at the post base and wind 5–6 parachute turns.
- Build a small head; whip finish and cement.
- Trim any hackle fibers that hang below the hook shank with fine scissors — these cause drag and prevent the fly from sitting upright in the surface film.