Bodkin / Patterns

Parachute BWO

Dry Fly · Trout · Grayling · Intermediate · 1 version

Classic Recipe

• Hook Standard dry fly, 16-22
• Thread Olive 8/0

Materials

• Tail Dun hackle fibers (split)
• Body Olive dubbing (slender)
• Wing post White or gray poly yarn (visible)
• Hackle Dun hackle (parachute)

How to tie it

1. Mount hook, tie in a poly yarn post at the 70% mark. Stand it up with a thread dam and wrap 8-10 turns up the post base.
2. Tie in split dun tails at the bend, 3-4 fibers per side.
3. Dub the thinnest olive noodle you can and wrap to the post. Baetis are slim; halve your dubbing.
4. Tie in a dun hackle at the post, shiny side up, and wrap 3-4 parachute turns, each below the last. Tie off under the hackle.
5. Whip finish. The body should sit flush in the film under the flat hackle disc.

Substitutions

• Body instead of Olive dubbing: BWO Superfine — Standard match, easier to dub thin; Olive-brown dubbing — Darker variation for fall BWOs; Olive thread body — Minimalist, great for tiny sizes
• Wing post instead of White or gray poly yarn: Hi-vis orange poly yarn — Much easier to track in flat water; White Aero Dry Wing — Better flotation; CDC post — More natural but less visible

Tying videos

• Parachute BWO — Paul Johnson (YouTube)
• Parachute BWO — In The Riffle (In The Riffle)
• Parachute BWO — Dakota Angler & Outfitter (Dakota Angler & Outfitter)

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