The March Brown hatch is known around the whole world, anglers and trout alike want patiently for the first large insect hatch of the year. Locally, in our Willamette Valley, that hatch can be prolific with fish carefully choosing which naturals are worth rising for.
One of my all time favorite patterns for the hatch is a pattern from our friends at Fulling Mill: Tactical Western March Brown Parachute. The delicate design of this fly effectively mimics the silhouette of naturals on the water. It is tied on their Ultimate Dry Fly Hook, which is barbless. I know the fish prefer barbless hooks, but I do to as I believe they have better penetration, and level the playing field a bit.
Often commercial flies are suggestive of naturals on the water, but are not tied sparse enough. This fly does a fantastic job of capturing the silhouette of a March Brown without the extra bulk. The large parachute suspends the dainty fly effectively in glides of more calm water where fish often are sipping duns. The parachute is constructed from their Ultra Dry Yarn which is extremely buoyant and visible. The body is dubbed sparsely with their Tactical Dry Fly Dubbing, which is equally buoyant and compliments the parachute.
Overall, I love this fly because of its ability to closely mimic a natural on the water, while remaining buoyant and visible on the water. When fish are choosy, I find this fly gets picked. If it doesn’t, it goes by under the radar and doesn’t seem to disrupt feeding fish, that is if you are casting well and mending your drift effectively.
My favorite way to fish this fly is with a trailing cripple or emerger. I will run about 18-22in of tippet one “x” below what is attached to the Tactical Western March Brown Parachute. I will trail one of my March Brown emerger/cripple patterns or a soft hackle behind. This mimics a vulnerable insect, and often those ride lower in the film. The parachute serves as a reference point and if a fish eats, it allows you to see.
Some other patterns from Fulling Mill that I love to fish this in tandem with follow: Keegan’s March Brown Kripple, Tactical Blue Winged Olive Parachute, March Brown Wet Fly, Olsen’s Foam Front End Loader Caddis Fly, Hackle Stacker Caddis, Red Holo Diawl Bach Fly, Dusty Old Bat Caddis, or a Olsen’s Front End Loader Caddis.
I have fooled many large fish with this pattern. These fish are especially choosy, and the fact that they repeatedly pick the Tactical Western March Brown Parachute should tell you something. We are stocked up in the shop and online with them. To purchase them online and have them shipped right to your door, click here.
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Swing by the shop and get geared up while the hatch is in full bloom.
-Simon
The parachute design looks interesting. How well does it perform in tricky wind conditions?
Lily,
The design works fantastic and floats high. The parachute features Fulling Mill’s Ultra Dry Yarn which is extremely buoyant. If it gets wet from landing a fish, a quick squeeze in an Amado patch or drop in some dry shake will have it floating great in no time.