adams

The Adams

Can imitate the Callibaetis, Siphlonurus or black drake, Siphlonours
occidentalis or gray drake and sometimes even the Baetis mayfly dun.

The name Adams brings to mind great dry fly fishing just by the mention of the word. The Adams is tied in the standard style of dry flies using a hackle tip tail, a dubbed body with feather tip wings surrounded by dry fly hackle. The Adams tied by an expert is a work of art that is a great fly to fish. Its simple design and ease of tying have made it a giant among avid tiers. Yes, there are more sophisticated patterns but the Adams is still one of the best and its popularity proves that fact. While fishing Creeks and Rivers near Idaho Falls, Idaho, the Adams came through on almost every cast. It can be tied in sizes from #12 to #18 and the midge style is tied in sizes from #20 to #26 omitting only the hackle tip wings. This fly should be in all fly boxes.

Tying Instructions

Hook:
Thread:
Tail:
Body:
Wing:
Hackle:

#12 to #18 dry fly hook
Dark gray or black
Brown & Grizzly hackle mixed
Muskrat under fur
Grizzly hackle tips
Brown & grizzly dry fly hackle

1. For the tail select one brown and one grizzly spade hackle from a good quality dry fly neck. Place the two hackles together and even the barb tips on one side of the stems. Either cut or pull off a bunch of bards from each stem at the same time holding the tips in your left hand, about a dozen of each color will do. Mix the barbs together by rolling them between your thumb and forefinger, making sure the tips of the barbs stay together. Tie them in on the top of the hook. Cover the tail butts with thread making a smooth underbody for the body to be wrapped over.

2. Select two grizzly hackle tips for the WINGS from a good quality hen neck. The width of the hackle tips should be approximately the width of the gap of the hook. Place the tips together concave sides facing out with the tips even. Tie them in on top of the hook. Lift and secure the wings at an 90 degree angle to the hook. Trim the butts and add a drop of cement.

3. Pull the tips apart and wrap in an X pattern between the divided wings to keep them separated. Add a small drop of cement between the two wings.

4. Dub a tapered BODY to about one eye length behind the wing. Prepare and tie in one grizzly and one brown dry fly HACKLE at this point with the dull sides facing the eye. Continue dubbing past the wing to about an eye length behind the eye and tie off. Wrap the hackles in tight even wraps to the end of the dubbed hook shank and tie off. Trim the hackle tips, form a small head, add a drop of cement and you are ready to fish the Adams.