Pink Lightning Bug Fly Tying Video
Posted on March 4th, 2021
Pink Lightning Bug Introduction
Pink Lightning Bug nymphs are among the top winter flies in Montana, especially on the Missouri River where they’re effective from December or January through mid-May.
Though most Lightning Bugs look like slender, flashy mayfly nymphs, the pink version is suggestive of eggs and scuds at least as much as mayflies and midges. As such, the pattern is most effective when eggs and dead/dying scuds are mixing in the flow, most common in late winter and early spring.
Spin up a few Pink Lightning Bugs to try in your home waters this winter. Trail one of these behind a larger pink fly such as the AMEX Czech Jig I posted previously.
My Gussied Lightning Bug also works well in pink, if you’re looking for a “changeup” fly.
Recipe
Hook: Standard scud, #16-18. #18 is usually best.
Bead: 3/32″ to 5/64″ nickel, in either brass or tungsten.
Thread: 8/0 hot pink or fluorescent fire orange.
Tail: Shell pink Antron yarn. Use 2/3 of the the bundle of fibers on #16 and half on #18. The tail should be rather full.
Abdomen: Holographic pink Flashabou doubled around the thread when it’s tied in.
Rib: Small to extra-small red Ultra Wire.
Wing Case: Medium pearl tinsel.
Thorax: Ball of pink dubbing slightly darker than the body and tail, dubbed loose for movement.
Pennant Dun Fly Tying Video
Posted on March 4th, 2021
I developed the Pennant Dun in early fall 2020 as a tiny, delicate, yet buoyant and visible mayfly-style attractor dry. Its effectiveness largely derives from its unusual wing and hackle design, which allows for a large wing on a small fly.
While I’m still working on other versions of the basic pattern that are more imitative, as well as using the wing/hackle method on larger attractor-style patterns (a variation of Mike Mercer’s Missing Link using this wing style is in the works, for example), the copper and purple versions of this pattern were good attractors on the Yellowstone River on early fall mornings, when there were a few midges and mayflies hatching, but no real specific hatches.
Recipe
Hook: #14-20 standard emerger hook, here #18.
Thread: 8/0, here purple. Note that the thread will show through the body material, so sometimes it’s good to change thread colors after tying the body, depending on the effect you wish to produce. On the copper version of this fly, I use rusty brown thread under the tail and body, but fire orange for the hackle, wing, and head. I want the hot orange head, but it makes the body too orange if I use it for the whole fly.
Body: Veevus Body Quill, here claret.
Hackle: 1x oversized dun-grizzly, dun badger, or light dun.
Wing: Silver MFC Widow’s Web, trimmed into a pennant shape.
TJ Hooker Fly Tying Video
Posted on March 4th, 2021
TJ Hooker Fly Pattern
The TJ Hooker fly is similar in some respects to the Zirdle Bug in that it’s a combination streamer and stonefly nymph. When it’s fished dead-drift, it looks like a stonefly, while when it’s twitched or dragged (or even mended) it looks like a small sculpin. This combination is ideal when float-fishing or Euro-nymphing on foot, because it allows multiple types of presentation in one cast.
The TJ Hooker was originally developed by Solitude Flies, but the color variation given here is mine. Here are their colors.
The version given here is heavy and mostly intended for Euro-nymphing in the fall (hence the orange bead, suggestive of eggs), but it’s also effective during the summer when tied with standard beads or no bead at all. Don’t hesitate to fish small ones as droppers under large hoppers!
TJ Hooker Fly Video
Fly Recipe
Hook: #6-16 2xl barbed 60-degree jig hook, here a Kumoto KJ2322 #12. Note that this hook is rather oversized and a #12 looks like a #10 in similar hooks from Daiichi and probably most other brands. Feel free to substitute a 90-degree jig hook for use with brass beads, or even a standard 2xl nymph hook.
Bead: Here a 5/32″ orange slotted tungsten “jig” bead. Standard versions of the fly use gold or black beads. For lighter rigging, use a brass bead or none at all.
Weight: .010 to .025 lead or lead-free wire, optional.
Thread #1: Brown 6/0. Match the chenille color roughly when changing colors.
Tail: Marabou or chickabou. Here bar-dyed MFC Buggerbou in tan/brown is used. Feel free to change colors as desired.
Body: Chenille, here #0 Cascade Crest New Age Chenille in “Henry’s Lake.” Feel free to use your preferred color.
Legs: 2-3 strands MFC Sexi-Floss tied Girdle Bug-style. Here size small copper brown legs are used. Feel free to substitute.
Thread #2: Fl. fire orange 6/0 to create a hotspot. Standard versions of the pattern omit this.
Collar: A couple turns of Brownstone SLF dubbing to distinguish versions of this pattern with extra weight from those that don’t in my fly box. This step is purely optional.