Tying Instructions

1. Wrap hook with thread from the eye to the shank.

2. Tie eyes in clouser style.

3. Wrap thread back down to the shank, then tie in a small piece of estaz, and wrap the thread back up to just BEHIND the eyes.

4. Palmer the estaz all the way to the eye of the hook and then back to behind the amnesia eyes, wrap it off with the thread and then trim off the excess estaz.

5. Pull as much of the estaz in front of the amnesia eyes backwards and tie it down to form the head.

6. Lay a small piece of ribbon on top slanted at a 45 degree angle, make a few wraps then fold the other side back and wrap over it again to form the wing.

7. Dub in a small amount of antron for the collar. Whip finish and cement.

How to Fish and Other Nifty Stuff

 

Well, I don't fish terrestrials too much here in the Arkansas tail-waters so rather than make some traditional bland hopper that I've never used for you guys I decided to do something a little different after watching a fallen horsefly get gobbled up at a local pond. This pattern is simple yet I think it does an effective job of replicating the luminescence of horseflies. It is tied on a dry fly hook and will float after a false-cast or two to shake the water out of the estaz but much like the real horseflies I have swatted and thrown in the water during this project it floats for a while and then eventually starts to sink. Most but not all of my takes on this pattern so far have been while it is sinking but I do think it is important that it floats for a while first too as you can often watch fish congregate below it to observe.