Paul's May 2015 Fly of the Month

Black & Purple

Hook:  Wet Fly hook of choice size #12 to 20.  (I sometimes use dry fly hooks – TMC 100BL works well for this pattern)

Tying thread:   Uni 8/0 in black.

Tail:   3-5 black pheasant tail fibers.

Abdomen:  Black thread forms the abdomen.  After the abdomen is ribbed,  it is coated with “Hard/tough as nails”.

Rib:   Copper wire.

Thorax:  Purple UV Dub.

Legs/hackle:  One or two wraps of black hen neck fibers.

If you haven’t noticed from other Fly of the Month posts, I love black subsurface flies!  This is one of my favorite wet fly patterns. I usually fish it in a double rig with a Hare’s Ear wet fly.  The UV dubbing is like a beacon for trout. 

Start the thread at the eye.  Wrap down the hook to the hook bend.  Tie in your 3-4 pheasant tail fibers approximately the length of the hook shank.  Next, tie in your copper wire to be used for your ribbing.  Build up the abdomen to form a slender body.  Leave enough room to dub a small ball like thorax and the leg/hackle.  After completing the thread body, rib it with copper wire.  Tie and cut the wire off.  Give it a couple coats of “Hard/Tough as nails”.  Next dub your thorax.  Usually a couple wraps of dubbing does the job.  Don’t overdub.  The entire fly should have a slender profile.  Next, tie in your hen hackle by its stripped stem.  Make one or two wraps, tie and cut it off.  Next build up a small head, whip finish and apply head cement. 

If you have any questions about this fly or would like to submit a pattern of the month I can be reached at 203 305-3850 or e-mail me at pdinice@frontier.com .