So for those on the E-List who got the latest mailing (Jan/Feb 2010), read the section on the Parachute Mend, and then said, “Nice, and thanks for not including a picture!” this post is for you. For those not on the E-List, this post is also for you (I like to be all-inclusive around here).

I might as well intro the pic with some of the text from the E-List mailing, so that the whole thing makes sense to everyone. I have much, much more to say about this presentation method (and its variations), but that is for other posts. Here’s the core idea:

A basic (but highly effective) technique for fishing a dry/film fly down-current requires only a stop, lift and drop. After stopping the rod at the end of the forward stroke (and allowing the end of the line to pass your position), reach your hand easily and smoothly back and up. All you want to do is smoothly lift the tip of the fly rod back-and-up a few feet (not past vertical). This aerial Reach Up is also called the “Parachute Mend,” among other names, and results in slack line hanging down from the raised rod tip with the fly momentarily dragging in the water.

To deliver the fly to the fish, first make sure that the fly is above the fish’s feeding lane, then drop the rod tip. Depending on line length and how much control you want to retain, the drop can be done as either as one smooth, quick move or done at the same rate that the current is drawing the line away from you. The fly will go right down to the fish. If the fish refuses, let the fly go past and then drag it back out and around the fish, re-cast and repeat the process.

Once you get comfortable with the technique, you should be able to do most if not all the reaching and fly positioning while the line is still in the air, reducing your chances of the dragging fly sinking or picking up detritus.

And here is the promised pic: