Adams Female

The Female Adams dry fly is a variation of the classic Adams, tied to imitate adult female mayflies, especially those returning to the water to lay eggs. It features the same gray body, grizzly and brown hackle, and upright wings as the traditional Adams, but adds a bright yellow or chartreuse tag at the tail, representing the egg sac of a gravid female mayfly. This small but distinct addition makes the pattern especially effective during spinner falls or late stages of a mayfly hatch when trout key in on egg-laying females.

History of the Addams Female: 

The Female Adams was developed as an offshoot of the original Adams pattern, likely in the mid-20th century, though its exact originator is unknown. Fly tiers added the yellow egg sac to increase realism and entice trout feeding selectively on female mayflies. It has since become a trusted pattern during mayfly hatches across North America, offering a subtle but effective trigger that sets it apart from the standard Adams.