Parasols

October, 2011

                               Technique: Parasol
                       
				   		
  
              Tyer's Name: Coop Cooper
              Date: October 3, 2011

    Fly Originator and History: Originated by Fran Betters (1931- 2009) of the Adirondack 
    Sport Shop in Wilmington, NY.  

                                How the Fly is Fished
    Suggested line and leader: Floating line and leader.
    Depth: Depth is determined by the length of the parasol's post.
    Suggested retrieve: Retrieve with pauses and occasional twitches, or just let it drift.
    Comments: Quite often, fish will take a rising emerger just before it surfaces. 
    Attaching a parasol to your emerger or nymph will keep the fly at a fixed depth 
    and will increase you chances of a strike. Tie-in the parasol as you are tying 
    an emerger or nymph. Or in the field, tack it onto an emerger or nymph using 
    UV Knot Sense or Krazy Glue (or equivalent).

                                Fly Material
    Parasol: Antron, Zelon, deer hair, elk hair, or any other similar material that 
    floats. In the field, use a twig if you have to.
    Post:  Monofilament leader or tippet material. 
    Note: Add some dry fly floatant to the parasol to keep it floating. 

                                Tying Steps
    1. Select some material for your parasol.

    2. Form a 'cow hitch' with the monofiliment using your thumb and index finger. 

                                              Cow Hitch

    3. Slide the parasol material half-way  through the two loops and pull it tight. 

    4. Add a touch of glue to keep the hitch from loosening.

    As an alternate, use steps 5 and 6:

    5. Select your parasol material.

    6. Tie a clinch knot around the mid-point of the parasol material.

    7. Trim the parasol to suit your needs.

    8. Tie the parasol onto the shank of the hook before tying the fly, or tack a
    parasol onto an existing fly.


               R. Shadforth 11/27/11