I love taking a new material and using it on old patterns. A worm is nothing new to fishing or fly tying but with this fly you may learn a new trick of using chenille to make a nice wiggly tail. The variation using this material is as endless as one could imagine, but keeping worms simple is something we all believe is best. Try adding weight like a bead head or lead wire under the chenille even dumbbell eyes. Try a collar of ice dubbing or even a hot spot collar of thread. This fly can be used for trout, bass and even carp. Try it on a salt water hook and give it a try also.
PATTERN
THREAD – Semperfli wax thread 8/0 (70 denier) in red or equivalent
TAIL/BODY – FNF creeper chenille in marshmallow pink (can get at bob Marriott’s in Fullerton)
CEMENT – Bone dry thin resin or equivalent.
HOW TO TIE
TIE UP A DOZEN OR TWO – AND GO FISHING*** But remember to practice C.P.R. (CATCH – PICTURE – RELEASE)
Great for bass, it crushes fish, very durable; fish key in on this fly and is a perfect baitfish fly. It’s a sized down version of the low fat minnow. Very transparent and veny looking, the dubbing in front pushes water and allows fish to pick micro vibrations. The marabou tail gives this fly incredible movement. It’s also a very productive trout streamer. Cast out and let it sit a little then strip in. Try tying it in your favorite baitfish colors.
PATTERN
HOOK – Fulling mill Bonio barbless carp hook #8 or Firehole 315 in #6 or#8, can also use barbed one but pinch off the barb before tying.
THREAD – Danville flat waxed nylon 70 denier (8/0) in white
BEAD – (Optional) Plummeting tungsten bead in nickel 7/64ths (2.8mm) to keel it.
EYE – 3d holographic eyes 1/8 inch in super pearl.
BODY – Ice dub UV Callibaetis (#ice50 from Hareline dubbing Inc.) can also use in UV pearl – UV tan –UV dark dun. You can also try a ripple ice dub.
TAIL – Fish hunter UV marabou fl. White / white spay hackle chickabou.
HEAD – Bruiser blend junior (very sparse) by Hareline dubbing / hareline.co TOP- holographic grey BOTTOM- cream.
MARKER – TOP – brown (sharpie or chartpak)
BOTTOM – marigold in sharpie or goldenrod in chartpak GILLS – red (fine point)
OTHER THINGS NEEDED - Loon UV glue in flow and thick and also UV clear fly finish and a UV light to cure it.
HOW TO TIE
TIE UP A DOZEN OR TWO – AND GO FISHING*** But remember to practice C.P.R. (CATCH – PICTURE – RELEASE)
PATTERN
HOOK – Standard nymph #16 - 12
THREAD – Black 70 denier (8/0). Also try other natural colors along with pink, yellow and crawfish orange.
RIB – Ultra wire copper in XS size
BODY – Dubbing mix in black
COLLAR – Rabbit fur in black
HOW TO TIE
TIE UP A DOZEN OR TWO – AND GO FISHING*** But remember to practice C.P.R. (CATCH – PICTURE – RELEASE)
PATTERN
HOOK – Daiichi 1710 or equivalent in #10 - #16
THREAD – Danville camel 6/0 (140 denier)
RIB – Small copper wire
TAIL – Lemon wood duck flank
ABDOMEN – Natural Australian opossum
THORAX – Natural Australian opossum
HACKLE – Lemon wood duck flank
HOW TO TIE
PATTERN
HOOK – Red Umpqua U-series size #20 or equivalent
BEAD – Midge – sized, silver killer caddis glass bead
THREAD – UTC 70 denier (8/0) in red, also try a black version
WING BUD – Light pink; midge – sized sparkle braid
RIBBING – Extra – small, silver ultra-wire
THORAX – Peacock herl
HOW TO TIE
TIE UP A DOZEN OR TWO – AND GO FISHING*** But remember to practice C.P.R. (CATCH – PICTURE – RELEASE)
Tom Loe came up with his version of the Cal Birds bird’s nest that you can tie in a dark and light variation. The tail material is tips of blood marabou which give a graceful action within Stillwater situations and can mimic small baitfish such as perch fry or damsel nymphs.
PATTERN
Light version
HOOK – Daiichi 1710 #14 -18 THREAD – Uni-thread tan 8/0 (70 denier)
HEAD – 3/32 gold bead
TAIL Marabou blood quills (ginger). Topped by dyed mallard barred flank (wood duck gold)
ABDOMEN – Hareline dubbing in hares ear
THORAX – Hareline dubbing in hares ear
RIBBING – Copper ultra-wire in small
LEGS – Dyed mallard barred flank in wood duck gold
Dark version
Same hook – black thread – same bead – black marabou blood quill for the tail – abdomen and thorax black dubbing – red ultra-wire for the ribbing – legs same feather.
HOW TO TIE