Tuesday, September 25, 2012

Paul's October 2012 Fly of the Month


 
The Francois 
Hook:  Tiemco 100SPBL Size #14 - #18.         Thread:  Olive. 
 
Bead:  Tungsten bead matching hook.        Weight:  .15” lead wire.
Tail:  Wood duck fibers.    
 
Ribbing:  Small copper wire. 
 
Body:  Pheasant tail fibers. 
 
Hot spot:  Datum Orange Glo Brite fluorescent Thread or fluorescent orange dubbing.  (Another option is to use a fluorescent orange bead.)
 
This fly was developed by Aaron Jasper of Trout Predators Online, a.k.a. www.troutpredator.com .    There are two very important characteristics which this fly has.   First, it’s weighted and has a Tungsten bead to get it down deep.  Secondly, it has a “hot spot” or fluorescent color incorporated into the pattern.  At times “hot spots” on flies make your nymph more visible to trout.  Fluorescence is the emission of light by a substance that has absorbed light.  In most cases, the emitted light has a longer wavelength than the absorbed light.  This means it is more visible to the trout.  The trout have to see your fly in order to eat it.  A fluorescent “hot spot” can increase your chances to hook up. 
 
Begin by placing your Tungsten bead on your hook.  Coat the hook shank with crazy glue and wrap lead wire from the middle of the hook shank to the bead.  Start your olive thread in the middle of the hook shank.  Next, tie in 4-6 fibers of barred wood duck for the tail.  The tail should be approximately 2/3 length of the hook shank.  Tie in your small copper wire to use as ribbing.  Next, tie in 6-10 pheasant tail fibers for your body.  You are going to wrap them forward to the bead head, similar to making a standard pheasant tail nymph. Before you wrap the peasant tail fibers forward, create a smooth nymph body with your tying thread.  Wrap your pheasant tail fibers forward to the bead and tie them off.  Trim excess.  Counter wrap your ribbing the length of the fly. Tie off and trim excess.  Tie off your olive thread.  Next, tie in your orange fluorescent thread behind the bead.  Create a thin “hot spot” collar or dub some fluorescent orange dubbing behind the bead.  Whip finish and cut off thread.  Below is a video from Troutpredators/Aaron Jasper on how to tie this fly.
 
Thanks again to Aaron Jasper for sharing this pattern.  Please check out www.troutpredators.com .   This fly can also be viewed at the Housatonic Fly Fishermen’s Association website at www.hffa.net . 
If you have any questions about this fly or would like to submit a Fly of the Month, I can be reached at 203 305-3850 or e-mail me at pdinice@snet.net.