Flyfishing the Sierras

• Hook: TMC 100 #16-20
• Thread: Olive 8/0
• Body: Olive Dyed Quill
• Thorax: BWO Superfine
• Tail: 6-12 Med. Dun Hackle Fibers
• Wing: White Turkey T-Base
• Hackle: Med. Dun Hackle

Notes: Designed by A.K. Best of Boulder, Colorado. A.K. prefers to use quills for the body rather than dubbing to get a more slender profile. He also prefers to use Turkey T-base feathers for the parachute wing. Traditional materials such as Calftail or Poly Yarn produces a large bump where the wing is tied into the shank. This is a problem on the smaller baetis patterns. In addition, the use of a hair wingpost usually has a weight distribution problem on the small baetis patterns that cause the fly to tip on its side upon the water. A.K. likes to use the T-base feathers that are 2-4 inches long. They compress well, needing fewer thread wraps, lighter than Calf Hair, and more durable. Patterns of particular mayflies vary by the selection of the quill, hackle, and tailing fibers.

Variations:

• Hook: TMC 100, sizes 20-24
• Thread: White and Black 8/0
• Tail: Med. Dun Microfibbetts, split
• Wingpost: White Floating Yarn
• Body: Olive Brown Hackle stem
• Thorax: Black Superfine
• Hackle: Black

• Hook: TMC 100, sizes 14-16
• Thread: Gray 8/0
• Tail: Med. Dun Hackles
• Wingpost: White Turkey T-Base
• Body: Med. Dun Hackle Stem
• Hackle: Grizzly Hackle

• Hook: TMC 100, #14-18
• Thread: Beige 8/0
• Tail: Med. Ginger Hackle Fibers
• Thorax: PMD Superfine
• Wingpost: White Turkey T-Base
• Body: Ginger Hackle Stem
• Hackle: Med. Ginger