Parks' Salmonfly

Parks' Salmonfly is a traditional dry fly imitating adults of the family of giant stoneflies or salmonflies (Pteronarcyidae). The most commonly imitated species is Pteronarcys californica or salmonfly common throughout Western North America from British Columbia to California.

Parks' Salmonfly
Artificial fly
Parks' Salmonfly
Type	Dry fly
Imitates	Giant stoneflies, salmonflies
History
Creator	Merton Parks
Created	1954
Materials
Typical sizes	2–8, 6 most common 2X long
Typical hooks	TMC 200R, Mustad 9671, DaiRiki 700
Thread	Black 3/0 nylon or kevlar
Tail	Brown bucktail
Body	Tangerine or orange acrylic yarn
Wing	Brown bucktail
Ribbing	Brown or furnace hackle, clipped
Hackle	Brown or furnace hackle
Head	Black thread
Uses
Primary use	Trout
Reference(s)
Pattern references	Yellowstone Country Flies, (2013) Wiese[1]

Origin

One of the most enduring contributions of Parks' Fly Shop in Gardiner, Montana is the Parks' Salmon Fly, an improved version of the old Sofa Pillow used to imitate the giant stoneflies or Salmon Flies on the Yellowstone River and its tributaries. In 1954, Merton Parks found the older imitations of the giant stonefly unsuitable and created the Parks Salmon Fly. The fly remains popular and in use still today.[2] Charles Brooks, a master Yellowstone fly fisherman, called the Parks' Salmon Fly one of his top three stonefly imitations.[3]

Imitates

Pteronarcys californica

The Parks' Salmonfly imitates an adult salmonfly (Pteronarcys californica), a species of giant stonefly common in higher-velocity streams and rivers, on medium to large-sized unconsolidated substrates.[4] Salmonflies are found across western North America from California to British Columbia and throughout the Rocky Mountains.[5] On the Yellowstone River and southwest Montana where the Parks' Salmonfly originated, adult salmonflies typically emerge in late June through July. Trout aggressively feed on adults that fall in the water.

Materials

Adult salmonflies are large insects up to 2 inches (5.1 cm) long, so imitations are tied on large, long hooks. Size 6 is the most common but they can be tied on size 2-8 2X long hooks. Merton Parks improved on the original Sofa Pillow by replacing the red floss body with the more bulky and buoyant acrylic yarn in tangerine–a color closer to the living insect. The quill tail and fox squirrel tail wing were replaced with bulkier brown bucktail. The tail, body, wing and hackle are all tied very bulky to create a large profile on the water.[1]

Variations

Elk mane can be substituted for the bucktail. Smaller versions of the fly (size 6–10) tied with lighter bucktail, ginger hackle and yellow yarn are used to imitate Golden stoneflies (Hesperoperla and Calineuria).[1]

Notes

1. Wiese, Walter J. (2013). Yellowstone Country Flies-The Fly Patterns of Parks' Fly Shop. Gardiner, Montana: Walter Wiese. pp. 121–124.
2. Grant, George F. (1981). Montana Trout Flies. Portland, OR: Champoeg Press. p. 61.
3. Brooks, Charles E. (1984). Fishing Yellowstone Waters. New York: Nick Lyons Books. pp. 41. ISBN 0-8329-0324-8.
4. Elder, John A., Arden R.Gaufin.1973. Notes On the Occurrence and Distribution of Pteronarcys californica Newport (Plecoptera) Within Streams. Great Basin Naturalist 33:218–220.
5. "Stoneflies: Plecoptera - Giant Salmonfly (pteronarcys Californica): Species Account". Retrieved 2008-03-31.