Mr. Floaty Unsinkable Green Drake

Tied by J. Stockard Pro Tyer Jeff Rowley
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The Mr. Floaty Unsinkable Green Drake is a high-floating, parachute-style mayfly pattern tied by J. Stockard Pro Tyer Jeff Rowley. It’s built with foam elements for maximum floatation, making it a standout choice when fishing the Green Drake hatch, particularly on rivers with heavy water or complex current seams.

Green Drakes are among the most anticipated hatches of the season—big bugs, big rises, and often, big fish. But they also come with a challenge: their size and profile require a dry fly that floats reliably, even through rough water or extended drifts. That’s where Mr. Floaty comes in.

By integrating foam into a traditional parachute-style tie, Jeff has created a pattern that stays on top, stays visible, and still looks realistic enough to fool trout that have been sipping naturals for hours. The parachute hackle and foam post offer both a stable footprint and long-lasting buoyancy, making it easier to fish confidently without constantly reapplying floatant.

Ideal for evening hatches, fast water, or fishing downstream presentations where drag and sink are issues.

Materials

Hook: Ahrex FW503 size range 14-10
Thread: Semperfli classic waxed 8/0 pale olive
Parachute post: calf body
Tail: Moose body
Body: Kapok dubbing (caddis green, light olive), Ice dubbing (peacock green), 2mm foam (olive)
Rib: Semperfli classic waxed 3/0 fluoro yellow
Hackle: Whiting dry fly grizzly & medium dun

Step 1

Secure hook in vise, start thread at eye continuing touching wraps for a nice thread base, bring thread back to a little over middle of shank.

Step 2

Prepare moose body for tail, around 12 hairs should work. Measure to length of shank, tight wraps towards back of fly. Move thread back towards eye securing butt ends. Thread should be approximately 1/4 from eye.

Step 3

Prepare calf body for parachute post. Use the amount of hair you feel comfortable with. Jeff prefers a larger post, measuring to length of the shank. Attach with firm wraps rearward, and when secured, cut at an angle to help create taper. Add a little glue on cut ends, cover with thread making a smooth taper.

Step 4

Attach rib and foam move thread to back of fly.

Step 5

Dub body (Jeff uses kapok blended with a little ice dubbing). Move thread to behind the post, fold over foam, and secure with a couple firm wraps. Leaving the foam fairly loose. We want foam to create small pillows when wrapping the rib. Wrap the rib towards the post, secure firmly.

Step 6

Move thread in front of calf body creating a thread dam to stand up hair. Post calf hair. Adding a little bit of glue on post is not a bad idea now.

Step 7

Attach hackles. Jess likes using a grizzly and medium dun together.

Step 8

Add dubbing to the front of the fly, loosen jaws, and point the eye of the hook down to make wrapping hackles easier. Secure the hook, wrap the hackle, and whip finish! Tidy up, use tweezers to remove any trapped fibers.