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Adams

The Adams traditional dry fly

Recipe:

Hook:10 - 24 Down-eyed medium to lite wire
Thread:Black
Tail:Brown and grizzle cock hackle
Body:Muskrat
Hackle:Brown and grizzle cock Hackle
Wing:Grizzle hen hackle points

Uses:

The Adams is a well-known fly tied in a wide range of sizes. Used primarily to target trout, the fly is used in its smaller sizes to cover midge hatches and mayfly hatches. In the right size it makes a reasonable impression of a blue winged olive or other small grey/olive bodied ephemerid. Larger versions are serviceable in a drake hatch. The Adams is considered by many, a "go to" fly, and a very useful searching pattern.

How to fish:

Fished using standard dry fly presentation techniques. When no specific insect predominates on the water and it is not clear what the fish are feeding on, a well presented Adams is a good way to hedge your bets.

Notes

History: This pattern originated from the vice of Leonard Halladay, Michigan, U.S.A. and takes it's name from Charles F. Adams who fished the pattern on the Boardman River.

Variations: Two variations include an 'Irish Adams'(olive body) and an 'Egg Laying Adams' (yellow butt). The Parachute Adams is another variation, having a polyester/antron wool or hair wing post and a parachute rather than collar hackle. You'll also find an 'Adams Irresistible'...

Bibliography: Fly Patterns and Their Origins, 1943, Harold Hinsdill Smedley, Westshore Publications. Trout and Salmon Fly Index, Dick Surette, Stackpole Books. These books are usually available from Amazon ( .co.uk or .com )