Hot Chocolate Soft Hackle Nymph (with Marshmallow Indicator)

[letumgo]

Bottom View (sort of a fish eyes view):

Close-up View of Marshmallow Indicator (monofilament line colored with Sharpie Marker and craft foam cut into small disks - 5mm diameter by 6mm high)

View of the fly in water (suspended in small dixie cup filled with water):


Hot Chocolate Nymph w/Marshmallow Strike Indicator)
Hook - Mustad Model R50/94848 (Size 12)
Thread - Bennechi 14/0 Thread (Black)
Strike Indicator - Strand of clear monafilament fishing line with 3/16" diameter foam disks (attached with superglue)
Hackle - Prepared feather tyed in with the tips facing out over the eye of the hook.
Rib - UTC Ultra Copper Wire (Amber / Size Small)
Abdomen - FTD Hairs Ear Dubbing (Pheasant Tail color)
Tail/Dorsal Line/Wing Case - Guinea Hackle (Dyed Brown)
Thorax - FTD Hairs Ear Dubbing (50/50 blend of Dark Brown and Claret)

Bill (Roadkill) mentioned using white foam as a "marshmallow" to create an emerger pattern. That got me to thinking (dangerous I know) and this is what I came up with. It is a small foam indicator (complete with drift indicator post).

[tie2fish]

That is one of the coolest things I have seen in a long time! Only an engineer ....

[letumgo]

Bill - Fran Betters used to tye a nymph pattern called a "Piggy-Back Nymph" (See pages 102 & 103 of his book "Fly Fishing - Fly Tying and Pattern Guide"). His pattern used little deer-hair balls attacked to tying thread. He would tye these onto the fly at the rear of the thorax, so his nymph pattern would suspend from roughly the center of the shank. The little deer-hair balls are difficult to make, and I wanted to come up with another way. I used a gasket punch to cut out the foam circles and then inserted them onto a needle. This opened up a hole, which I could insert the monofilament fishing line. A small drop of superglue is enough to secure the foam in place on the line. I simply colored the end of the fishing line with a red Sharpie marker, before gluing the foam in place. The other end of the monofilament line is crushed flat with the pliers I use to crimp hook barbs. Flattening the mono makes it easy to tye the end onto the hook (lays nice and flat - minimizing bulk at the tye in point) and allows you to adjust the angle of the float. After dropping the fly in water, I would suggest more like a 45° angle, instead of a 90° angle photographed.

[narcodog]

That is just divine darling. What an imagination, just lovely. Oh I feel an orgasmic situation coming on

[letumgo]

Gee...Thanks, Bob...

(awkward silence - followed by laughter)

[Mataura mayfly]

Well, what next? Coarse fishing floats with flies under?

Seriously, this kind of thing has been in use over here for a while, just nowhere near as well done! The indicator post above the foam is a brilliant idea (might require the "caution- diver below" flag to be fitted if there are any speedboats about ).
The main suspenders here used a single bean from a bean-bag filling, with the mono post melted to a blob on top so the bead cannot slip off the top. Or the bead is encased in nylon mesh from pantihose (don't get caught pinching good ones from your better halves unmentionable draw...... "It's for fly tying- honest honey!") lashed to the post.
Some colour the underside of the float, something to do with when viewed from below and white being more visible than black. Not sure on that one.

Great tie Ray, nice nymph on a brilliant suspender system. I like it.

[narcodog]

I had to come up with some other adjectives that had not been used yet to describe the flies posted.

[Ron Eagle Elk]

Ray,

Novel approach to a parasol style fly. I won't gush quite as much as Narco, but I do like it.

[Mataura mayfly]

Just the place for you Bob!

[hankaye]

Howdy All;

Interesting footnote, The undersides of most military aircraft
are painted white so they'll be more difficult to spot from
the ground..
Back into my Hobbit hole now ...
I would suggest a pale whiteish blue

hank