There’s a spectrum to fly connecting that does not get discussed enough. On one end, you have actually got the perfectionists– tyers who desire every fiber positioned so, every section colored to simulate the genuine thing to the lateral line. On the other, there are the tyers who blend 2 dubbings together on an impulse, slap a name on the outcome, and attempt the fish to neglect it. Today’s Tying Tuesday resides in that complete variety, and we believe you’ll discover something worth spinning up no matter where your impulses fall.
We’re beginning with a Bleeding Bait Fish– a muskrat-bodied banner with a fish mask head that looks stealthily easy up until it strikes the water and relocations like something injured. From there, we move to the opposite end of the craft with a Realistic Caddis Pupa developed layer by careful layer: latex skin, Sharpie shading, melted mono eyes, the works. Then it’s back to the improvisational side with the Strawberry Jam Nymph, a speculative pattern born at the vise with a pink-and-olive ice dub body and a UV-coated red hotspot wingcase. We close with a Bunny Leech– a pattern that’s been tricking fish given that long before any of us got a bobbin, and a pointer that often the easiest flies are still the most dangerous.
4 flies, 4 approaches. Queue them up.
Bleeding Bait Fish
Hook: Fulling Mill Banner Stripper, size 1
Thread: Troutline Sumo Power 100D (white)
Tail: Troutline Muskrat Zonker Strip 3mm (bleached)
Calling 1: Fulling Mill Voodoo Banner Salty Light Tan Pearl
Calling 2: Troutline Mad Bunny Natural
Ghost Hair: Sybai Red
Head: Troutline Fish Mask, size 6
Adhesive: Super Glue
Reasonable Caddis Pupa
Hook: Ahrex FW541, size 12
Thread: TheFlySmith 20D and 32D GSP
Underbody: TheFlySmith 600D Worm Thread
Body: TheFlySmith Thin Latex Natural
Lateral Lines: TheFlySmith 6/0 Standard Wax
Dubbing: Superfine
Wing Pads: Medallion Sheeting
Legs: Pheasant Tail Fibers
Antennae: Wood Duck Fibers
Eyes: Monofilament (melted)
Coloring: Sharpie Markers
Resin: UV Craft
Strawberry Jam Nymph
Hook: Size 12– 16, 1x long nymph or damp fly
Thread: Black (or red)
Tail: Brown hen fibers
Rib: Red wire, size brassie
Body: Light olive and pink Ice Dub mix
Wingcase: Red duck slip with UV resin over
Bunny Leech
Hook: Risen Banner 200
Weight: Lead-free wire (.020 ″)
Thread: Veevus 140 (white/black)
Tail/Collar: Bunny strip
Flash: Flashabou (pearl)
Resin: Solarez Ultra Thin