Gumby Special (olive)
Hook - Daiichi Model 1530/Size 14
Body - Fly Tying Dungeon's Baby Bug Wrap (Olive) - The entire body is tyed before the thread is mounted onto the hook (see instructions & link below).
Thread - 8/0 UNI-Thread (in this case I used Wine - or use your imagination - any complimentary color is fine) -
Hackle - Prairie Chicken (Natural) - or substitute any hackle you like
The inspiration for this fly came from one of Wayne's (DUBBN) recent posts. Wayne had included a link to a pattern called a "Yong Special", which showed an interesting technique for forming tapered fly bodies. (Link: http://prairiegoat.com/Fishing/FlyPatte ... pecial.htm)
I wanted to see if the technique could be used to form gummy tapered bodies, so I went to the vice to play.
I found that I can form a lovely tapered body by stretching a piece of Baby Bug Wrap (stretchy lycra legging material). I use a single strand of the material and stretch it out as I mount it onto the hook. I begin wrapping the material forward from the middle of the hook (tag end held in my left hand - winding forward with my right hand). Once I got to one eye-length behind the hook eye, I then wound backwards all the way to the bend of the hook, and forward towards the eye. At this point I clipped on a heavy pair of hackle pliers to the front end. Trim off the tag end (rear part). Mount your tying thread, just behind the eye of the hook. Wind back to the body and secure the stretchy legging material. Trim off the excess. Prepare and mount a feather (stem end first). Make one or two wraps forward and then secure the feather in place. Whip finish a small head and cast off the thread.
It sounds complicated, but is actually very easy. I really like the look of the tapered gummy body.
Tying Notes:
- Keep strong tension the whole time. This will help hold the wraps firmly in place.
- Do not allow the strand to untwist, while it is being wrapped. As you wrap the body material, each wrap adds one twist to the strand. This gives a nice segmentation effect to the finished body. If you look closely at the front of the body, you can see where I allowed the twist to unwrap. The body in this section lacks the segmentation.
- This technique appears to be suitable for tying smaller flies.
- Fatter bodies can be formed by wrapping additional passes.
- Changing the color of the body, thread and hackle will provide endless variations.
Thanks Wayne!
