Whiskey Creek Fly Fishing » Glass Beads

Fly Days of August: Zebra Midge

WhiskeyCreek — Fri, 14 Aug 2009 12:56:58 +0000

Zebra midges have a great “time invested to fish caught” ratio for fly patterns. With just 3 ingredients, thread, wire, and a bead, they come together very quickly. And with all trout water containing midges that seem to be active all year, you can’t go wrong with tying up a box load.

Zebra Midge

Zebra Midge

Hook: Scud or caddis pupa hook (TMC 2487), sizes 14 to 22 (size 18 shown here)
Bead: White glass seed bead, size 11/0 from the craft store (brass beads work as well)
Body: Black thread
Rib: Small Silver wire

Note: a coat of Sally Hansen’s Hard as Nails or other lacquer on top helps with durability

Fly Days of August: Bead Body Caddis Pupa

WhiskeyCreek — Thu, 13 Aug 2009 12:43:53 +0000

Tying with glass beads is fun and definitely adds some shine to your flies. Here is a caddis pupa tied with glass seed beads from the local craft store. These beads are the 11/0 size, which work for smaller sized hooks (16, 18).

Glass Bead Caddis Pupa

Glass Bead Caddis Pupa

Hook: Pupa hook, size 16 (TMC 2487)
Body: 4 olive seed beads, size 11/0, secured with a thread bump and a drop of zap-a-gap
Antenna: Mallard or Wood Duck
Collar: Grey Ostrich

Fly Days of August: BWO Soft Hackle Emerger

WhiskeyCreek — Sat, 01 Aug 2009 12:54:26 +0000

Welcome to the Fly Days of August. Each day this month, I’ll post a fly pattern. Many will be my patterns, but some will be culled from the internets. All will catch fish.

The Blue Wing Olive Soft Hackle Emerger will kick things off. I had a banner day on Henry’s Fork last fall with this pattern, as the photo attests. (this fly remnant was right where I left it last October, right on the cabin window sill).

BWO Soft Hackle Emerger

BWO Soft Hackle Emerger

Hook: Size 18 Dry Fly (TMC 100, etc.)
Body: Olive Biot
Thorax: Clear Glass Bead & Olive dubbing
Hackle: Brownish Partridge

Here is what it looks like before the fish:

BWO Soft Hackle Emerger (before fish)

TK-421, why aren’t you at your post? Star Wars inspired fly pattern

WhiskeyCreek — Fri, 29 May 2009 02:16:50 +0000

The guys at FFOTW created a Star Wars themed fly swap. Here is my entry, the TK-421. TK-421 is the most famous of all the Stormtroopers.

Materials:
Hook: Size 14 Wet Fly (Mustad 9671)
Thread: White 6/0
Body: 4 white glass beads, size 11/0 (craft store)
Thorax: Sparkle Dubbing, polar bear color (from Blue Ribbon Flies)
Hackle: Partridge soft-hackle

Start with putting the beads on the hook.

Start the thread behind the beads and build a bump at the bend. (and trim the thread better than I did here) After creating the bump, tie off the thread with a whip finish.

Add a drop of zap-a-gap to the thread bump, slide the beads backwards so they butt against the bump (and the rear bead gets a little zap-a-gap). Then, restart the tread in front of the bead body.

Secure the hackle to the shank, then dub a shaggy thorax

After completing the dubbed thorax, wind the hackle 1.5 to 2 wraps. Tie off and trim the hackle.

Complete the fly by sweeping the hackle backwards, form a head, whip finish, then cement.

Craft Store Beads

WhiskeyCreek — Sun, 01 Mar 2009 18:49:08 +0000

Another rainy weekend, and a trip to the craft store.

Bead Body Caddis Pupa

Hook: Size 14, curved pupa hook
Thread: Light Olive, 8/0
Body: Glass “seed beads” size 11/0, 4 beads
Antenna: 2 wood duck fibers
Thorax/Legs: Grey Ostrich

Bead Thorax Soft Hackle

I was thinking PMD emerger when tying this one.

Hook: size 14 wet fly
Thread: Light Olive, 8/0
Tail: Pheasant Tail
Body: Pheasant Tail
Rib: Small wire, amber for this one
Thorax: Yellow glass “seed bead”, size 6/0
Soft Hackle: Partridge

Sally Midge

Hook: Size 14 Curved hook
Head: Green glass seed bead, size 11/0
Body: Light Olive Thread, 8/0
Overbody: Fine Monofiliment Thread
Over-over body: 3 coats of Sally Hansons Hard as Nails