Terrestrial Time: Tying the Para-Ant
As promised yesterday, here are the instructions for tying the Para-Ant (an old pattern of my father’s, which I still tie, carry and fish with regularly). Rather than try to re-type all the info, and then do a layout with individual drawings, I have done the digital equivalent of a tying scrapbook for you. The images below are sliced (well, scanned and then Photoshopped) straight out of GB’s 1991 book, Designing Trout Flies (there is no link, since the book is difficult to find these days). I hope that the tying crowd here at FF&W finds the illustrations useful…
Don’t know how to make that slick, Harrop-style dubbing ball referenced above in step 2? Here you go:
Tying sequences copyright © Gary A. Borger. Used with permission.
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Hi to form the ball you can also make a loop in the thread, compress the dubbing and twist the loop, in this way you can ad a litle more strenght to the balls of dubbing… do I make myself clear? (Im not a native spoken, Im from Chile)
Regards,
Simon
Jason,
This fly will be the last supplement to fill my box for my up-coming trip. My view is this is a super low-landing pattern. Probably the impressionistic (a long word). It looks simple but very delicate to tie (I played some tying and salvaging hooks till they looked OK). I think I will be using this for flat meadow waters in the Park, most likely trailing with a hopper or a large attractor as an indicator. Also I think I can use this by swinging as a drowned after dead drifts, in that sence I can use this at riffles of Madison and Gallatin.
PS, thank you for the soft-hackle drawing….SY
@Simon—I think you know what you’re getting at, the thread reenforcement would certainly help to keep the dubbing well-seated. I’ve experimented over the years with various materials (especially finer deniers) for the dubbing balls, as well as employing techniques like furling (which can also add strength) to get other effects. In any case, thanks for adding the dubbing tip (and feel free to add more detail if you wish). I am a fan of adding durability if it can be done simply.
@Satoshi—There will be a couple more patterns coming this week, but I think the Para-Ant is a great one to have. “Simple, but very delicate to tie” is a good way of putting it. I really like the P-A for more “delicate” fishing, as well (I also just like the way it looks). I will go to a deer-hair ant for larger and/or more rough-water patterns. Foam works, too, but I like the way deer-hair ants look/float (they do get chewed, though).
And yeah, give the fly a swing at the end of the drift if the situation is good for doing so. If you’re “working the water” versus casting to a riser or to a specific area, you might as well maximize your presentation.