The Adams

If I was only allowed two dry flies, the first choice would be the Royal Wulff, the second would undoutably be The Adams. I have used this fly in sizes 10 to 18 all over the world to catch trout and grayling whenever there have been mayflies on the water. In the Snowy Mountain rivers it the perfect fly when the big colorboriscus dun is hatching ( what Mike Spry called the Kosciusko Dun).

Hook: TMC 100 or similar size #10 to #18
Thread: Black 8/0 uni thread
Tail: Clasically a bunch of grizzly hackles, but most tyers use moose maine or moose body hair.
Body: Dubbed "Fine & Dry" Adams Grey dry fly dubbing blend.
Wing: Two grizzly hackle tips. I prefer to use hen hackle tips which are wider and offer a better profile.
Hackle: One brown cock hackle and one grizzly cock hackle.

1. Tie in the tail which should be one hook shank long.
2. Take the tread two thirds the way along the hook shank (one third away from the hook eye).
3. The grizzley hackle tips for the wings should be one hook shank long. Hold the bases of the tips together, curved sides facing each other so that the wings splay outwards. Tie in the bases of the wings with the tips facing forwards towards the eye of the hook. Now lift the tips so that they are vertical and take a few wraps of thread in front of them to hold them upright. Next criss cross the tread between the wings figure of eight fashion. this will separate the wings dry fly style.
4. Take the thread back to the tail, to just above the barb of the hook and dub on a slim tapering body, getting slightly thicker towards the wings. Stop just in front of the wings.
5. Tie in the butts of the brown and grizzly hackles together. Some tiers wind both hackles together. I prefer to wind the brown one first, tie that off and then wrap the grizzly though the brown and tie that off.
6. Form the head with the thread, whip finish, varnish.
7. Go fishing.

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