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What is a postless parachute fly?

Firstly we need to talk about a traditional parachute fly

The point of a any parachute hackle is to support the weight of the hook on the surface film, allowing the hook to be just subsurface to replicate an insect hatching off the water.

A parachute hackle needs to sit on top of the hook, not wrapped around the hook like a collar hackle would be.

In a traditional parachute fly an additional piece of material is added to the hook at right angles. This is called the post which provides a structure that is stable enough to have a hackle wrapped round it.

The post is made using a material, either yarn or CDC (Cul de carnard), as the properties of these materials compensate for the effects of extra material being used and help the fly to be presented correctly. The post is usually then left visible and described as the wing although it is always represented upright, in the centre of the hackle.

A post is always going to be visible to the angler as it should sit above the water at all times. The post is sometimes brightly coloured for this purpose

Easthope's postless parachute fly technique.

This technique was developed solely by Simon Easthope.

The technique for creating a parachute hackle is simplified. it removes the requirement for the post encouraging the feather to fall more naturally when the hackle is formed.

Indian and Chinese cock hackles become a much more viable option, while genetic hackles can be used to create amazing results.

What are the advantages of tying a parachute fly without a post?

A more natural profile can be achieved

The ability to replicate an emerging fly prior to the wings popping out from the shuck (No Wing)
A potential to replicate a fly with a wing in a different position, other than upright.
Less materials means less build up, more opportunity to create a slender fly
More versatility in the materials used to represent the wing as they are not relied on for structure
An opportunity for the hackle itself to be brightly coloured, for the benefit of the angler
An opportunity for the hackle to be formed to shape a wing ( e.g. Eastie's Flat-wing Sedge Fly. described below )

Eastie's Sedge-wing

Why do we need another sedge pattern?

There are lots of sedge patterns out there, and tiers go to great lengths to find new materials to use in these flies.

Each of these sedge patterns attempt to address the same problem, which is to find a way to mimic the profile of a sedge wing, while ensuring the hook is not overdressed or over heavy.

The Elk Hair Caddis, Sedge Hog, Goddard's Sedge and CDC bubble sedge are all examples of this. and have proved their place in the fly angler's dry fly box.

What is also apparent is the lack of patterns that rely solely on a cock hackle to represent this dry fly, when the opposite is true with upwings.

This is attributed to all the hackling techniques used in other flies being unsuitable for sedge imitations

Eastie's Sedge-Wing

The fly that ticks all the design boxes

In its simplest form only relies on 2 materials for the whole fly, making representations of smaller sedges a lot easier
The wing does not affect the representation of the body, meaning both can be made separately to more accurately replicate the natural fly.
Not only does the hackle perform the job of keeping the fly above the surface film, it also provides a trigger for the size and shape of the natural fly's wing
Cock Hackles are a favourite natural material for dry flies because of their qualities. Now there is a Sedge pattern that uses this material exclusively, it is bound to have its followers.
Endless possibilities, being such a basic pattern there is definitely scope to improve this fly by adding more materials making it perfect for any situation

Too good to Ignore

The discipline might be different but the appeal is the same

The Salmon Fly

The salmon Fly has evolved over time, the classics, very ornate and fancy flies have been overtaken in practical terms by the hair wing. The hair wing being a much more mobile, robust and easier fly to make

The Sea Trout Fly

Generally smaller than the salmon fly and not quite as ornate, the materials in these flies has also evolved in time to reflect the changes in salmon fly production

The Pike Fly

Not steeped in the same history as salmon and seatrout as far as fly fishing is concerned, but certainly has gained a modern following. Pike flies benefited from a blank canvass when being created and as such have a very varied base of unique, successful patterns using modern materials.

So how does this all get affected by the Eastie's Sedge wing technique?

We're not interested in its ability to mimic a sedge that's for sure, we are appealing to the aggressive and predatory instincts when fishing for these species. We are not particularly interested in its potential to float either, although in some scenarios it could be an advantage.

The huge advantage to this technique for this quarry is the ability to use larger colourful hen hackles that have an amazing mobility in the water, and being able to stack these in turn giving clear boundaries to a multi-coloured wing

The other advantage is that the materials are not self limiting like the others. If a size 22 can be dressed easily with a Eastie's sedge wing then we should be able to cover all possible eventualities for these species.

Does the thought of fishing with super elegant flies for that fish of a lifetime appeal?

This could be the perfect compromise between elegance and practicality as essentially there is no compromise, especially as you lose none of the benefits of the more modern flies!!