Realistic Sowbugtied by mnorwood Fly Type: Nymphs Target Species: Trout Recommended Region: Southeast US Material List: Hook: TMC 3761 (size 12-18) Thread: UNI- Thread 6/0 (Tan) Antennae: Brown, Olive, or Dun hackle fibers Back: Swiss straw/ brown, olive, or Gray Eyes: Monofilament Body: Dubbing blend= 75% gray Antron + 25% olive hare's ear; or SLF Whitlock Dubbing (sowbug gray or sowbug tan) Rib: UNI- Thread/ Same Lead wire: 0.15 Tying Instructions: If you prepare your own dubbing, blend gray Antron dubbing with olive hare's ear. Also prepare your monofilament eyes (after burning the ends, I usually dip the tips in black Sally Hansen FingerNail Polish). Secure the thread on the hook shank just behind the eye. Wrap lead wire around shank. I usually make 12 to 15 wraps. Just don't crowd the eye of the hook or the bend. Build a thread dam in front of the lead wire. Flatten your thread and make several wide wraps over the wire towards the hook bend. Build up another thread dam behind the wire, then wrap a smooth thread foundation back to the hook bend. Return the thread to mid-shank and tie in a strip of Swiss Straw (equal in width with the hook gape). Wind back to the bend. Using several tight figure 8 wraps, tie in your mono eyes one or two thread wraps in front of the rearmost thread wrap holding down the Swiss Straw (it sometimes helps if you flatten the mono between the two eyes with a pair of flat nosed pliers). Wind your thread back to the hook eye. Spin your dubbing on the thread. Your aim is to build a tapered body, slightly slimmer towards the eye of the hook and fatter towards the hook bend. When you reach the eyes make one or two more figure 8's and one or two wraps in front and behind the eyes with your dubbed thread. With a pair of flat-nosed needle nose pliers, smash the lead flat along the rear-most half of the body (the half towards the hook bend). Gently pull the end of the Swiss Straw forward over the body to the hook eye. While keeping the Straw centered, firmly wrap the thread forward, creating equally spaced segments (5-6 wraps, depending on hook size). With a pair of scissors, snip the excess Swiss Straw square, leaving a short crinkled "tail" extending out over the hook eye. Whip Finish. Tease out dubbing fibers along both sides, but clip any long, wild fibers on the underside so that it is flat. Presentation Tips: I've had a lot of luck fishing it "down and across", letting it bump along the bottom. I also tie this using either Olive and Brown Stalcup's Flashback instead of Swiss Straw. I wish I could take credit for this pattern, but basically, its Shane Stalcup's, with a few minor variations. I posted pics of this fly when I first jump on board here at FTF, and several people have messaged me, asking for the recipe and instructions. |
Growing up in Michigan, I learned to love fishing at night with mice patterns. It wasn’t until I moved out west that I realized how versatile these flies can be. Now, I always carry a few just in case- or if I have too much to drink and need something to keep my attention during the wee hours.
After fishing a ton of different mouse patterns, I decided to combine different elements of some of my favorites to come up with something more productive. The butt sinking versatility of the Dirty …
Here is a simple yet realistic looking pattern that should be equally effective for trout as well as bluegills. With this pattern my attempt was to create a fly that would mimic in appearance the larval stage of any number of beetle species . Commonly called grubs , these beetles in their larval stage , often become easy meals for any number of animals . Grubs are most often found in loose composting soil or leaf litter and can be deposited in ponds and streams carried by runoff after …
As a fly tier and a devoted steelheader, I encounter many new trends and “must have” flies. I am not one of those guys who have two different patterns in a couple of colors and sizes in his fly boxes. I have at best, two of each pattern, a multitude of colors, shapes and sizes, a cornucopia if you will. One thing I know for sure is that the color blue attracts steelhead and angler alike. About 65% of my recent fly orders have all been …
The thermometer outside my window reads 13 degrees Fahrenheit as I write this. And winter has been harder than usual this year, wind, cold, ice and snow. It has all been heavier than the norm. More and more, I look upon weather like this and say to myself that it’s fly tying season in my neck of the woods. Time to tie those flies and restock those boxes that you will be using in warmer days. It also means that I day dream about fishing …
Through the years I’ve spent fly fishing and fly tying, I have seen a whole lot of flies. Having an art background I have found that I tend to look at all of them with a critical eye; noting each small hard fought victory at the vise as well as their imperfections. Over time I have found that, regardless of the style of fly, the care given to the head of the fly is indicative of the care used at each step along the way. I try …
