Adams Dry Fly – Fly Recipe

Adams Dry Fly

The Adams dry fly is one of the most popular flies in the world. The adams dry fly was first tied for Mayfield Pond in Michigan. One summer day in 1922, Charles F. Adams, was fishing the pond when he saw an insect that interested him. When he returned to his hotel, he described it to local fly tier Leonard Halladay who tied what was to become the adams.

The adams is an all around versatile dry fly. It can be used as an imitation for most mayflies and even works well during caddis hatches. If you can tie wings then this adams dry fly pattern is a quick fly to tie. Every spring I make sure there are several in my fly box. My favorite adams dry fly sizes are sizes 12 and 14.

The best hooks for this fly are:

Mustad # 94840, # 94842 or # 94833
10, 12, 14, 16, 18, 20, 22

Fly Dressing:

Thread: Black 8/0

Tail: Brown and grizzly hackle fibers

Body: Muskrat or medium gray dubbing

Wing: Grizzly hackle tips-upright and divided

Hackle: Brown & grizzly hackles, mixed

If you like to tie flies look at our other pages of wet flies, dry flies, nymph flies and streamers for fly tying. These pages offer pictures of fly patterns and provide information regarding fly tying material and the fly recipe for tying on a fly with fly tying know how. These are great flies for fishing and should become part of your fly gear and added to your fly boxes.