OK, I'll put my name on it, but elements have been copied from flies I've seen on here and the web. I kinda lost track but I think I've been working on this for two years now and really like the way this fly fishes. I've had some success with this in size 10, especially earlier in the year, but an 8 seems to fish best. I seem to have more success with a compact fly than something on an xl shank. I don't think exact materials are as important as just the way they are put together and the way the materials move in the water.
FM 50 45 Sz, 8
Gold slotted tungsten bead for natural or Copper for rust color in 4.6 for standard or 3.8 for low water. Of course other combos work and you can play with what you like. Wire for extra weight.
Burnt Orange, or another thread to suit you fancy. 70 or 140 both work fine for this tie.
Black and crystal flash antenna (tail).
Rubber legs. I like orange or pumpkin in a mediumish size.
Pine squirrel zonker strips. I think these are 1/8", in natural or dyed.
I like natural or rust hares ear dubbing for my area. Still have not used olive much. A blueish/grey to go with the orange for a signal crayfish would be nice but I haven't quite found one I like yet. Maybe muskrat?
Medium Wire, I usually match bead color.
Partridge and/or Grouse hackle. Or any soft hackle, I've used hen too.
Bead on hook in vice. Usually 6-10 turns wire based on water flow.
Two strands black and two crystal flash for tail at 1 1/2 times overall body/bead length.
Dub in a tuft to splay the rubber legs, then tie in one piece rubber each side at 1 1/4 time the bead/body length.
Affix one pine squirrel strip hide in on each side atop the rubber. Hide should be just shorter than the rubber, fur longer.
Make a level base, tie in the wire along the "top" (bottom later) and prepare your dubbing loop, or just get your dubbing on your thread however you like to do it.
Wrap your dubbing, and counter wrap the wire, and secure. Tie in a partridge feather.
Stroke back the hackle, wrap 2-3 turns in a wet fly style and secure, then tie in the grouse feather.
Do 1-3 turns of grouse in the same style or wrap it to stand up more by just turning dry fly like.
Cement thread, give a couple turns, whip and clip.
Variety
Wet
I've come to like this style because I can fish it upstream leading it down on a tight line, cast across, sink it, and strip back, or cast down and across and swing it. Or all the above. It collapses to a nice silhouette then opens up on the pause. Get it to open and drift back and down and it gets eaten. Good luck.
FM 50 45 Sz, 8
Gold slotted tungsten bead for natural or Copper for rust color in 4.6 for standard or 3.8 for low water. Of course other combos work and you can play with what you like. Wire for extra weight.
Burnt Orange, or another thread to suit you fancy. 70 or 140 both work fine for this tie.
Black and crystal flash antenna (tail).
Rubber legs. I like orange or pumpkin in a mediumish size.
Pine squirrel zonker strips. I think these are 1/8", in natural or dyed.
I like natural or rust hares ear dubbing for my area. Still have not used olive much. A blueish/grey to go with the orange for a signal crayfish would be nice but I haven't quite found one I like yet. Maybe muskrat?
Medium Wire, I usually match bead color.
Partridge and/or Grouse hackle. Or any soft hackle, I've used hen too.
Bead on hook in vice. Usually 6-10 turns wire based on water flow.
Two strands black and two crystal flash for tail at 1 1/2 times overall body/bead length.
Dub in a tuft to splay the rubber legs, then tie in one piece rubber each side at 1 1/4 time the bead/body length.
Affix one pine squirrel strip hide in on each side atop the rubber. Hide should be just shorter than the rubber, fur longer.
Make a level base, tie in the wire along the "top" (bottom later) and prepare your dubbing loop, or just get your dubbing on your thread however you like to do it.
Wrap your dubbing, and counter wrap the wire, and secure. Tie in a partridge feather.
Stroke back the hackle, wrap 2-3 turns in a wet fly style and secure, then tie in the grouse feather.
Do 1-3 turns of grouse in the same style or wrap it to stand up more by just turning dry fly like.
Cement thread, give a couple turns, whip and clip.
Variety
Wet
I've come to like this style because I can fish it upstream leading it down on a tight line, cast across, sink it, and strip back, or cast down and across and swing it. Or all the above. It collapses to a nice silhouette then opens up on the pause. Get it to open and drift back and down and it gets eaten. Good luck.
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Either way, fishy as can be!
