FTF-25Feb22-Water Walker & F8 Parachute

This is a heavily edited version of the 25 February 2022 Fly Tying Friday in which Al was the featured tier. He shows the Water Walker Wulff and then experiments with a Figure-8 Parachute. He spends some time reviewing information from the Beatty's book (Tying Hair Wing Flies) on how to select the proper hair for dry fly wings and tails. The book is available on Amazon (type gretchen beatty books in the search bar) or on the Beatty's website (btsflyfishing.com). Give us a like and subscribe if you find this video of value.

[@joeduca8582]

That was awesome Al. You're the first person I've seen tie that marvel of a fly. I tied it when I got my first cock neck. I followed the instructions in the Orvis Fly Pattern Index. Took me a while but it came out pretty good. I only tied one and never fished it, lol. A while back Fly Tyer had an article by Al Ritt on the magazines 40th anniversary, the Water Walker was featured. The second fly you tied was great, explosion of hackle barbs. Thanks to you and Gretchen for all your work.

[@zafotbeeb]

Interesting as I have used this pattern since 1980 or so . I learned to tie the hackles in facing forward between the wings as illustrated in the 1978 Orvis Index Of Fly Patterns.