Cinnamon Flying Ant – Fly Tying Video
Posted on March 4th, 2021
Cinnamon Flying Ant
This is an excellent bug on the Yellowstone in August and early September and does double duty as a caddis or even (due to its rusty appearance) a mayfly emerger.
Hook: Standard dry, #14-18.
Thread: 8/0 rusty brown.
Head and Abdomen: Rusty brown acrylic dubbing. Here, it’s just craft yarn chopped up in a blender, but use whatever you like.
Wing: Light tan Widow’s Web or similar hydrophobic synthetic, tied in vee-style. You can also use white.
Hackle: Badger, 4-6 turns. You can also use brown, grizzly-brown, etc.
Extended Body Girdle Bug – Pat’s Rubberlegs
Posted on March 4th, 2021
The Extended Body Girdle Bug (Rubberlegs, Pat’s Rubberlegs, there are many names) is a twist on probably the most popular nymph in the northern Rockies these days. With a tungsten bead and simple extended body, it sinks like a brick and has more movement than most Girdle Bugs. Here I tie it in a copper/tan/brown color, but the basic pattern is a good “changeup” for any color of Pat’s Rubberlegs.
Hook: 1x short 1x strong scud hook, #6 (can go smaller with smaller beads and a smaller diameter of lead wire).
Bead: 3/16″ black nickel tungsten.
Thread: 6/0 dark brown.
Horns: Short section of copper-brown barred Sexi Floss or similar spandex rubberleg material, tied in pinch-style.
Weight: .035 lead or non-toxic wire.
Tails: Long section of copper-brown barred Sexi Floss or similar spandex rubberleg material, tied in pinch-style.
Body: “Henry’s Lake” New Age Chenille. Other variegated chenilles are also good.
Legs: Three short sections of copper-brown barred Sexi Floss or similar spandex rubberleg material, tied in with X-wraps and reinforced with head cement. Can cut back to two legs if desired, particularly on smaller sizes.
Synth Stimmy – Stimulator Variation
Posted on March 4th, 2021
Synth Stimmy
This is a good small to medium rough water attractor dry. With the abundant hackle clipped underneath, tight synthetic body materials that don’t absorb water, and synthetic wing, it is buoyant but floats low in the film. These features, along with the alternate hook used compared to the standard Stimulator, also make it float correctly every time and give it good hooking properties. To top it off, it’s even quick to tie.
Tie the Synth Stimmy in colors to match your favorite Stimulator (except yellow, alas, because the body material is not available in this color) or in other “attractor” or “imitator” colors.
Hook: 2xl curved shank nymph/hopper (Here MFC #7231), #10-16. Do not use standard Stimulator hooks.
Thread #1: MFC Midge Body thread OR Veevus Iridescent thread. Here, MFC Midge Body in golden olive.
Abdomen: One to several layers of thread #1, depending on hook size and material used. Note that the tying method varies depending on which material is used, particularly in small hook sizes. See the video for details on how to create the body using both materials.
Thread #2: 8/0, here light olive.
Body Hackle: Dry fly saddle secured at front of abdomen and palmered back to rear of abdomen. Here, grizzly dyed March Brown
Rib: Thread #1. See video for method.
Wing: MFC Widow’s Web or EP Trigger Point fibers. Here, cinnamon caddis EP.
Front Hackle: Dry fly saddle. Here, grizzly dyed March Brown.
Adhesive #1: Super glue over thread wraps securing wing butts and front hackle.
Head: Ice Dub. Here, olive.
Adhesive #2: Head cement or superglue.