Tight Lines Fly Fishing: Paul's April 2020 Fly of the Month

Iso Iso Baby

Iso Iso Baby (Isonychia dry fly)

Hook: Dai-Riki Size #10, #12, #14 1X long Dry Fly Hook (or hook of preference).

Tying thread: Black, Brown, or Rust 70 Denier Ultra-Thread.

Tail: Deer Hair tips from the center of the hide.

Body: Isonychia dry fly dubbing.

Post: Deer Hair butt ends from the previously tied tail.

Legs: Rubber legs tied in Madam X style.

Hackle: Dunn dry fly hackle sized to the hook.

This pattern is actually a variation and knock off of the Madam X fly. The Isonychia is a wonderful insect. It is present on our Connecticut streams from June to October. And it’s a big fly! So when most hatches on the Housatonic & Farmington start getting smaller as spring turns to summer, you can still fish this large fly and do quite well, sometimes exceptionally well.

Start your thread behind the eye of the hook. Leave it two eye lengths behind the eye. This will be the location for your wing post. Snip a small clump of deer hair from the hide. Strip out the fuzzy material from the hair and stack it. Now measure it on the hook shank to be used for your tail. It should be a hook gap and ½ in length. Make two loose wraps of thread at the tie in point. Now make a tight wrap and wrap your thread rearward. Try to keep the deer hair on top of the hook shank as you wrap towards the rear. Now return your thread back to the tie in point and take a couple wraps in front of the butt ends of your deer hair. The dear hair butts will become your fly post. Add a drop of adhesive to the bottom of your post and wrap upward to create a post perpendicular to the hook shank. Next, return your thread to the rear of the fly. Dub an even body with Iso dubbing. Leave a small space behind the wing post. Next, select a Dunn Hackle to match the hook size. Strip the base fibers from the hackle and tie it in on the near side of the fly. After it is tied in, raise it so that it is perpendicular to the hook shank and against the wing post. Wrap it so that is securely bound to it. Now select your leg material. Your going to tie it in right behind the post, Madam X style. The rear legs should extend approximately a half a tail length beyond the bend. The front legs will have the same proportions. Next, dub the space behind the post, bring your dubbed thread forward while sweeping back your front legs. Dub behind the eye. Position your thread at the base of the tying post. Start wrapping your hackle down the post, making one wrap under the other. When you reach the base of the fly, take two thread wraps around the post to secure it. Now clip the excess hackle. Make a 4-5 turn whip finish around the post. Now clip your tying thread. Trim your wing post. It should be approximately the same length as your tail. Add a drop of head cement to the base of the wing post on each side. Your fly is complete.

There is a great instructional video by Tightlinevideo below: