I found this fly as I was looking for a very buoyant dry fly. The multitude of little panfish in our lakes would take the ordinary dry and drown it without ever even giving a chance at a hookup. In looking at the Irresistible, I knew right away that this was a buoyant fly. Originally designed for rough streams, it also serves the purpose of defeating those annoying undersized sunfish.
In looking for a recipe, it seems that there are certain similarities, but the Irresistible may be more of a style than a specific pattern. The primary element making it an Irresistible is the spun deer hair abdomen. You can vary the color and materials of the tail and wing to suit your hatch, personal preference, and available materials. Try an Irresistible Wulff, Adams, or Coachman, among others. Admittedly, I have substituted the white calf tail wings of the original pattern that I followed with white antron.
Two sizes of thread are used in this fly. I prefer the extra strength of the 6/0 through the spinning process, although there are those who successfully spin hair with 8/0 thread. I then switch to the 8/0 through the fixing of the wings and application of the hackle as it is sufficiently strong for this and reduces bulk over the 6/0 thread.
The materials I have used are as follows:
Hook: Daiichi #1180, size 12
Thread: 6/0 and 8/0 black
Tail: Brown hackle fibers
Body: Spun deer hair, natural
Wing: White antron
Hackle: Grizzly and brown hackle
Step One: With the hook in the vice, lay down a thread base of 6/0 thread. Tie in the tail with the tags cut square.
Step Two: Select wing material and tie in wing-forward. The tag ends of the wing should butt up against the tag ends of the tail. When tied down, they will give an even body on which to spin the hair.
Note: If fished in the traditional fast, rough water, the need for the wing is questionable, as fish may not even have the chance to see it. I happen to like it, but tie it to meet your needs. The elimination of the wing may save time, but the amount of time compared to the time spent spinning hair may be negligible.
Step Three: Beginning just ahead of the tail, spin a clump of hair. I ended up spinning only two and a half moderate sized clumps of hair. Of course, the length of the hair section should resemble standard fly proportions.
Note: With this small of a fly, I find it easier to keep things in control if I trim the tips off of the hair before tying in. The hair needs very little if any packing. With the close trimming due to the small size of this body, it will appear much tighter than a large pass popper trimmed to ˝ inch or longer with the same lack of packing.
Step Four: Pulling the hair back, make a few final wraps ahead of the spun hair. Whip finish and cut the bobbin loose. Using a sharp razor or scissors, trim the spun hair to the tapered shape of the body. Give care not to cut your tail fibers as you trim the deer hair.
Note: Some like to place thin head cement in the front of the hair to hold things together. I chose not to. Take your pick.
Step Five: Attach the 8/0 thread. Stand up and divide the wings with the necessary figure-8 wraps.
Step Six: Prepare and tie in brown and grizzly hackles. Advance thread to eye.
Note: I find it easier to begin wrapping the hackle if I leave a length of stripped stem, enough to make up to one full wrap, around the shank before the fibers begin.
Step Seven: Wrap grizzly hackle forward and tie off. Then wrap brown hackle forward and tie off. Be sure first full wrap of brown is behind and the last full wrap is ahead of the grizzly hackle. Being a rough water fly, a considerably heavy hackle is standard for this pattern.
Note: Many tiers believe the color of the finished hackle predominantly shows the color of the second hackle that is wrapped. You can change the look of the fly by simply changing the order of the hackle wraps.
Step Eight: Whip and snip. Put a nice head on the fly, whip finish, and snip the tag thread. Apply head cement if desired. Trim the wings as you see fit.
And there you have an Irresistible. You are ready to challenge rough water and over-zealous sunfish alike.
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Price: $6.95 for each issue
The Premiere issue is ready for shipping & the Fall 2008 issue will be available September 1st.
