The Vanilla Iso Parachute is Tim Flagler’s creative take on the classic Isonychia mayfly. True to his style, this fly is more than just a color swap—it features a unique parachute post and slightly exaggerated tail that help set it apart from more traditional Iso patterns.
While it still mimics the key traits of the Isonychia (size, profile, and movement) the Vanilla Iso adds extra visibility with a bright post and better buoyancy thanks to the parachute design. The tail is slightly unconventional but adds to the silhouette and gives the fly a bit of flair, especially in choppy water.
It’s a great searching pattern when mayflies are on the move, and it floats beautifully even in broken water. This is a pattern that fishes well during hatch times but is also a solid attractor when you just need something buggy and convincing on the surface.
Materials
Hook: 1X-long dry-fly hook (here, a Dai-Riki 300), size 12.
Thread: Wine, 8/0 or 70 Denier, wine.
Post: Soft Foam Parachute Post, size medium.
Tails: Centipede Legs, size mini, speckled grey.
Body: Rabbit-fur dubbing, dark brown to burgundy.
Hackle: Medium dun or dark dun.
Thorax: Rabbit-fur dubbing, dark brown to burgundy.
