Paul's October 2015 Fly of the Month

Slumpbuster - A John Barr Streamer

Hook:  TMC 5262 Size #2-#10. 
Tying thread:   3/0 olive Monocord.
Cone:  Silver or gold, brass or tungsten sized to match hook size.
Weight:   Lead wire, sized to hook.
Rib:  Brassie sized chartreuse ultra-wire.
Body:   Silver Body Braid/Ribbon.

Wing:  Olive Pine Squirrel Zonker Strip.

Collar:  Olive Pine Squirrel Zonker Strip wrapped hackle style.

This is a big fish fly.  One of the top reasons why I like it.  Its originator is John Barr of Copper John fame.  Although this pattern calls for pine squirrel for the zonker strip, I’ve used rabbit.  The pine squirrel is a little stiffer and shorter, definitely a preference for smaller flies.  The rabbit seems to work well on larger ones. 

Begin by sliding the cone onto the hook and insert in your vise.  Make approximately 10-15 wraps of lead around the hook shank.  Slide it up against the inside of the cone to lock it in place.  Begin your olive thread at the end of the lead wraps.  Cover them and wrap down to the bend of the hook forming a uniform slightly tapered body.  Then coat the wraps with ‘hard as nails.   At the bend of the hook tie in your ribbing material.  Next tie in your body braid material behind the cone and wrap your thread back to the bend.  Make sure the length of body braid is long enough to palmer and wrap your body.  After wrapping your body cut and tie it off behind the cone.  Next tie in your zonker wing behind the cone.  It should be approximately 1½ times the length of the hook shank. 

Slightly dampen the wing material.  Palmer and wrap the wire ribbing forward through the wing.  You can separate sections of the wing after its dampened.  Cut and tie it off at the cone.  Next, tie in another zonker strip behind the cone.  It’s going to be your hackle/collar.   Make sure you wrap the strip around the hook with the hair facing the bend of the hook.  Two or less wraps is all you’ll need.   Preen the hair fibers back towards the bend of the hook as your wrapping the collar.  After two wraps cut and tie it off.  Apply some head cement to your wraps.  Your done.  Below is a great instructional video from tighlinevideo on how to tie the Slumpbuster.

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@frontier.com . 

Paul's September 2015 Fly of the Month

Napoleon’s Dynamite Jig Nymph

 

 

Hook:  Jig Hook Size #12-#18.  I use Allen Fly Fishing J100 BL hooks.

Bead:  Tungsten Disco bead or Rainbow Bead.

Weight:  .015 lead wire.

Tag:   Fluorescent Orange Thread.

Tail:  Peacock Crystal Flash – 3 strands.

Body:  Rusty Brown Thread coated with varnish.

Rib:   Chartreuse Crystal Flash.

Thorax:  Peacock and Fluorescent Orange SLF Prism Dubbing.

Collar:  Fluorescent Orange Thread.

This is one of my favorite jig head nymphs.  I’ve been nymphing with more jig head flies this past summer.  They really get down deep fast !

It’s important to note that “jig nymphs” drift with the point up.  Also, most jig patterns are tied in the “round”.  No matter what way you look at them they look the same.

I use Allen J100BL jig hooks.  They are black and barbless.  Any comparable jig hook can be used.  Be aware that the shank on a jig hook runs smaller than a traditional nymph hook. 

Begin by placing your “disco” tungsten bead on the hook.  A “disco” bead is a multi-faceted and gives off additional sparkle to your fly.  I also use “rainbow” beads for this fly.  Rainbow beads have multi-hued colors.  You can also use a bead of your choice.   Some tyers use “slotted beads” when tying on a jig hook.  I haven’t had any problem using a traditional bead. 

After your bead is on the hook, make 5-6 wraps of lead behind it.  Push it up against the bead to lock it in place.  Next take your hot orange thread and cover the hook shank.  Tie in 3 fibers of peacock crystal flash for your tail.  Next form a slim tapered body with your thread.  Tie the orange thread off.  Trim the tail to the length of the hook shank.  Tie in your rusty brown thread and wrap back along the hook shank, leaving an orange “hot spot” at the rear of the fly.   Tie in the chartreuse crystal flash to be used for your rib.  Wrap back and forth to cover all the orange thread with the exception of the “hot spot”.  Rib the fly with even wraps of the crystal flash.  Tie off your brown thread.  Next, coat the body with varnish to enhance durability and sheen.  I use 2-3 coats of ‘hard as nails’.  You can use a cement or resin of your choice.  After it dries, reattach your hot orange thread.  Tie it in behind the bead.  You’re going to dub your thorax.  You will be using two dubbings to do this.  The thorax consists of ‘two turns” of peacock SLF Prism dubbing, followed by ‘two turns’ of hot orange SLF Prism dubbing.  Now create a very small additional hot spot collar with your orange thread behind the bead.  Seal the thread with head cement.  Finally, using a piece of Velcro, brush out your collar to create a “buggy look” to your nymph. 

A gentleman by the name of Tim Cammisa has a great instructional video on how to tie this pattern below:

 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@frontier.com .