Today’s Tying Tuesday includes 3 patterns fished on or near the surface area. We kick things off with my old buddy, Rob Streeter, showing his technique for connecting a high-floating Fat Albert version, which will make an excellent sign fly, beetle replica, or well-rounded attractor fly. Next up, Andy from Andy’s Flies strolls us through a traditional North Nation Spider very first connected by T.E. Pritt in the late 1800’s. It’s a simple tie and looks incredibly buggy. It will definitely bring in trout dead-drifted or on the swing. Lastly, English tier Barry Ord Clarke connects a Midget Emerger in the Klinkhamer design. His video has lots of cool techniques– such as rearranging the fly in the vise– that will assist you connect any parachute pattern.
Foam Fat Albert
Hook: Basic hopper hook, size 10
Thread: Brown, 8/0 or 70-denier.
Body: Black and tan foam, stacked.
Underbody: Brown connecting thread.
Rear Legs: Orange-and-black Sili Legs.
Wing: White Z-lon.
Wing case: Black foam.
Front Legs: Orange-and-black Sili Legs.
Location: Orange Antron.
Legs: Orange-and-black Sili Legs.
Adhesive: Head cement.
Tools: Razor blade, hackle clip, calling needle.
Water Crickert
Hook: Basic dry-fly hook, size 14
Thread: Yellow or orange, 8/0 or 70-denier, waxed.
Hackle: Starling wing plume.
Body: Connecting thread.
Rib: Black silk thread, waxed.
Head: Connecting thread, waxed.
Tools: Hackle pliers, thread wax, razor blade, little brush.
Klinkhamer Midget Emerger
Hook: 1X-short curved caddis hook (here a Mustad Heritage C49), size 16
Thread: Gray, 14/0 or 50-denier.
Wing Post: White Para Post.
Adhesive # 1: Superglue.
Body: Connecting thread.
Rib: Connecting thread colored black with irreversible marker.
Hackle: Medium dun.
Thorax: Mahogany Super Fine calling
Hackle tie-off: Connecting thread, waxed.
Adhesive # 2: Superglue.
Tools: Thread wax, calling needle.
