Sprout Tying Instructions

Tying parachutes can be a little tricky to get the hang of.  I think crowding the head with hackle and having the post collapse are two big problems when learning to tie them.  I like to tie with the foam posts because they don't collapse easily.  Not crowding the head comes from tying off the hackle correctly and not crowding the head.


Sprout - Trout Fly
Mahogany Dun colors pictured

Hook: TMC 2486 #14-16
Thread: Rusty Brown 6/0
Parachute Post: Rainy's 1/16 parachute post
Tail: Amber Zelon
Body: Turkey Biot
Hackle: Grizzly Dyed Brown
Thorax: Superfine Dubbing - Mahogany Dun

Step 1: Tie in parachute post.

Step 2: Make several wraps in front of the post to get it upright.
Also, take a couple wraps around the post.

Step 3: Tie in Zelon tail.

Step 4: Tie in turkey biot and coat the thread with head cement.

Step 5: Wrap turkey biot forward.

Step 6: Tie in hackle.  Take a couple wrap around the post as well so it is oriented up.

Step 7: Dub thorax.

Step 8: Wrap hackle.  Pull hackle straight down and then sweep back fibers to tie off.

Step 9: Tie of hackle and whip finish.

I really like to coat the thread before I wrap the turkey biot for improved durability.  You can wrap the turkey biot in either direction to get a smooth body or a segmented body, the fish don't care so do whichever you like.  Tying the hackle off is probably the trickest component of the fly.  Before you tie it off pull the hackle straight down away from the eye, sweep the fibers back, place hackle at tie off point right where the dubbing ended and tie off.  If you can keep the hackle right on top of the hook you can trim it off and have few, if any, hackle fibers clogging the eye of the fly.  

Let me know if you have questions Mac, hope this helps.  Tie this fly in PMD, BWO, Green Drake, etc. colors.  The reason I tied mahogany dun colors is cause I need to stock some in the box.

Some of the pics are a bit blurry but you can figure it out.