IF EVER THERE WAS A DRY FLY that needed no introduction, it is the Adams fly.
This American fly pattern (designed by Len Halladay of Michigan in 1922 at the request of his close friend Charles Adams) was believed to have originally been a down-wing pattern that more closely imitated a caddis. Regardless of it origins, the Adams dry fly is considered by many anglers to be the best dry fly pattern ever conceived. Probably the first dry fly I memorized the name of, the Adams has always had a home in my fly boxes, and probably always will.
One of the greatest things about fly tying has to be the temptation we all feel to change patterns around… experiment a little. I’ve seen and tied variations that include parachutes, egg-bearing females, trailing-shuck emergers, thorax ties, CDC-hackled Adams… even Adams wet flies! There are countless others, especially when you consider that the grey muskrat body color is often switched to imitate other species of mayflies and caddis!
Have some fun, and don’t leave home without them!
Adams Dry
Hook: Tiemco 100 size #10-#20 (or any standard dry fly hook)
Thread: Grey or black 8/0
Wing: Grizzly hackle tips (hen)
Tail: Hackle fibers-grizzly/brown/grizzly
Abdomen: Muskrat underfur
Hackle: Grizzly and Brown (rooster/neck)
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