The parachute emerger is a superb all-round pattern. Changing size of hook and indeed colour, you can imitate most emerging up-wings and caddis and it does very well as a terrestrial imitation too.
Hans van Klinken's 'Klinkhamer Special' has earned fly-fishing fame due to its success. It rides well, creates a great footprint and is very durable. Parachute emergers are an essential pattern in any River Fly Box.

The parachute emerger makes up a huge part of my river fly arsenal and is a great choice for prospecting the river. It is also very useful for those days when you are getting regular takes. During these times, I prefer the parachute emerger over a CDC pattern.

Some people struggle with tying parachute hackles. There are options of using Gallows tools, but in fact, with a little practice, tying a neat, well proportioned parachute hackled - emerger is simple without extra tools or hassle.
The step-by-step opposite looks long. However this belies its simplicity. I have explained each step in detail so you can see exacly how I tie in the post and the wing. The method opposite is the one I prefer to use. It is not the only way and it is not the 'correct' way. You choose.
I find this method gives me the following advantages:
1) A durable hackle
2) A neat thorax
3) No unnecessary build up of the body (often a danger when tying the post in first and under the thoorax / dubbing)
4) The wing is in the perfect position with no need to add extra thread wraps to get it in position
If you struggle with the parachute hackle or you are aiming for a fly with a slimmer profile, give it a try.

When choosing materials, there are some important considerations:
Thread: Choose a thin enough thread that you can tie around the post without up-setting the hackles. I find Sheer 14/0 excellent. Danvilles' Spider web is also very good and Hends's Synton is excellent for tying in the smaller sizes.
Wing post: I prefer either TMC Aero-dry or Funky Fly Tying's 'Funky Fibre'.
Hackles:Use the best quality you can afford. Higher barb-count and softer stems allow for a neater more durable hackle. Try not to over-hackle the fly. Just two or three turns of hackle is enough for the fly to float. I carry a number of more heavily-hackled versions for fishing in very fast, turbulent water.
The materials used for this tutorial:
Hook: Partridge 15BNX - Extreme Klinkhamer
Thread: 14/0 Sheer, grey
Abdomen: Orvis Spectrablend, Olive
Wing post: Funky Fibre, dun
Thorax: Squirrel
Hackle: Whiting, Golden Badger
Although this specific tutorial is for the emerger, I tie all my parachute hackled flies with this method.

Paradun


Fly: Dave Wiltshire Photograph: Hans Weilenmann

Fly: Dave Wiltshire Photograph: Hans Weilenmann
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