Just in case you don’t have enough Squwala patterns to tie, here’s another one. This pattern is based on Schroeder’s parachute hopper, which I think doesn’t get the credit it deserves for being one of the best. The fly checks off the key features of a Squwala: it’s low floating, segmented body, and lots of movement. What makes this fly different than most is its ability to land softly on the water. In low clear water this can be a game changer. Also, with the parachute wing this fly almost always lands upright and is easy to see. I tied this fly with an extended body on a short shank hook, but it’s not necessary. You can use a standard size 10 or 8. Olive thread, olive and brown foam, variegated olive dubbing, a brown grizzly hackle, and a couple of rubber legs. When everyone else is heavily splatting their flies give this subtle gem a try. You might just catch that wary giant that’s refusing everything else.
Hook: size 10 standard dry fly Thread: Big Fly B, olive Extended body: moose underbody then 1mm olive and black foam Wing: synthetic wing material cut to shape Body: Umpqua poly dubbing bronze olive Hackle: dyed brown grizzly neck Legs: Micro barred Grizzly Legs root beer
1. Place a blunt needle or in this case a paper clip in the vise. Coat with a touch of wax. Cut a small bunch (10) of moose hair. Hold the moose around the pin and tie on thread around the hair and pin.
2. Tie in strip of olive foam on the bottom and then the black strip on top. Advance the thread between the strips of foam and make your first segment.
3. Continue the process until you have the desired length and segments for your extended body. Whip finish over the last segment. Cut away excess moose but leave the foam ends. You will use these to attach the body to the hook.
4. If using a standard hook, you will need to bend it twice. First, bend the hook gap open, then bend the front half of the shank down 35-45 degrees.5. Starting from the top of the green foam push the hook through the middle of the strip, approximately one segment length from the last segment of your extended body.
6. Tie in thread and wrap back to just past the bend you made in the hook. Tie down the ends of the black and olive foam. You want the body to be level with the bent shank of the hook.
7. Tie on wing to cover body. 8. Tie in parachute post and hackle. The hackle should be a size or two oversized.
9. Wrap dubbing from wing to post. Tie in legs on each side of fly right at post.10. Dub a bit more in front of post. Wrap the hackle and tie off. Add a drop of head cement or super glue.
