In the Loop Fly Fishing Magazine - Issue 32

Fly Tying:

The Paraloop Mayfly

Mayflies are wonderous and tragically ephemeral creatures that will get both fish and fly fishermen raging with excitement. There are 369 different mayfly species across Europe ranging dramatically in size and colours. The smallest caenis and baetis mayflies are less than 10mm in length while the biggest mayfly in Europe, the Tisza mayfly, can grow to 25cm in length (including the tail threads).

By CHRISTIAN ZIEGLER-KIRCHERMEIER

For trout- and grayling fishermen, mayflies are an important insect group, and it’s pivotal to have good imitations that not only look the part but also float well and leave the right impression or footprint on the water surface.

I want to show you my way of tying a durable adult mayfly pattern. It’s a pattern that can be varied and adapted to imitate the exact mayflies that hatch on your local stream or lake. I’ve worked quite a while on this pattern to ensure that the fly sits just right on the water surface – and to make sure that it stays afloat during the drift.

The biggest advantage of so-called “paraloop” hackles is that the fly’s critical mass sits right underneath, similar to parachute style hackles. But then, why didn’t I simply use a parachute hackle, or even a normal hackle and then trim the belly? Well, I like the dubbed thorax a lot more than the look of a trimmed hackle, and a traditional parachute hackle makes it difficult to tie in the wings.

The combination of the paraloop hackle and the extended body ensures that the fly lands properly on the vast majority of all casts. And this is important! A fly that doesn’t sit right on the first cast, will often get rejected even if it sits right on consecutive casts.

I use the Paraloop Mayfly a lot during the spring and early summer mayfly hatches on my local rivers, and I’ve found that, sometimes, a few short twitches can make a big difference. It seems to really capture the interest of the fish.

I also fish the fly during May and June, on days when the hatches are sparce or lacking. It’s a great “search pattern” and can be deadly with a dropper nymph below. Because of its design, materials and great buoyancy, the pattern is capable of carrying a good amount of weight.

Material List//

Hook: Hanak H530BL #10-12

Thread: Textreme standard 8/0 for Extended Body, Textreme Power Thread 50d for the rest

Tails: Whiting Tailing Pack or CdL

Body: 2mm Foam light Grey or Tan

Thorax: Vicuna Dubbing colour (or hare substitute)

Hackle: Oversized cape hackle wound around Antron Yarn

Wings: 2 big CDC feathers (natural colours)

Extra materials you need: Extended Body Tool like the one from Stonfo or a big needle, super glue (like Gulff Minuteman), and waterproof markers

Make a base layer on the needle and tie in your tails with a few tight wraps. Now cut out a piece of foam - 5 centimetres in length. (The thickness depends on how buoyant you want the fly to be). Fold the foam piece at the middle and make a diagonal cut from one side to the other. Place the foam pieces on the tip of the needle, fold them back, and start to tie them in. Then, add a drop of glue to the point where the tails came out of the foam.

Create segments in the foam with 5- 10 wraps of tying thread. Insert the thread between the foam flaps, do one or two wraps, and start with the next segment. Make every consecutive segment slightly longer than the previous one. Finish all segments with your whip finisher.

By using permanent markers provide the tail with some colour. (I am sure, the fly will catch fish without it, but it does something to the overall impression of the fly).

Pull your preferred hook through the last tail segment and fasten the hook in your vise. Then make a base layer with your tying thread and add some superglue.

Tie in the extended body and add some superglue, again, to prevent the body from twisting and turningx.

Tie in the Antron Yarn and the oversized hackle.

Dub the whole thorax from where the foam ends right up to the hook eye. Just reserve a little bit of space there for the next few steps.

While holding the Antron Yarn in one hand (straight up), wind the hackle around it. You need to wind from the fly upwards towards your fingers. From time to time squeeze the Antron Yarn with your hackle hand and push the hackle winds towards the hook. Now, fold the Antron Yarn over the Thorax and tie it fast. If you prefer, add some glue to firmly fixate it.

Take your CDC feathers, place them on each side, and fasten them with your tying thread.

Make a small head on the fly, colour it with a permanent marker, and finish the fly with some varnish or superglue.