This is a very effective fly for fast water because it sinks fast and the placement of the lead shot gives the fly a propensity to ride point up reducing the propensity  of snagging. It can be used on its own just to bounce along the bottom or to sink a second fly such as a an egg fly or unweighted nymph. The other really good thing is fish accept it readily. I only tie it in dark brown but there is no reason why it wouldn’t work in black or olive as a nymph, in orange as an attractor or “egg” colour perhaps with a slightly bigger thorax as an egg fly.

Materials

Process

A	Wind the thread in touching turns to the bend of the hook. Tie in a tail equal in length to the length of the hook shank. Resist the temptation to make the tail too bulky. Return the thread half way up the shank of the hook. Place a drop of Tarzan Grip or craft glue on the hook shank just in front of the thread then place the lead shot on top of the hook shank and crimp it into position. [member Link=”p=2372″ Title=”Adding weight to a fly”]

B	Tie in a length of copper wire as you return the thread to the bend of the hook. [member Link=”p=2656″ Title=”Creating segments on flies”] Dub on a body starting at almost nothing and gradually increasing to the diameter of the lead shot as your dubbing meats the lead shot. Wind the copper wire along the body of the fly forming 4 or 5 segments. Tie the copper wire off at the half way point and trim the excess copper wire. Tie in the back material directly behind the lead shot.

C	Hold the back material out of the way and dub over the lead shot forming the thorax. Pull the back material over the top of the fly and whilst holding it tight and in place tie it off just behind the eye of the hook. Trim the excess back material whip finish and varnish the thread.