Paul's October Bonus 2020 Fly of the Month

 Smokejumper

Hook:  Dai-Riki  125  Size #16  Emerger hook (or Emerger hook of preference).

Thread/Abdomen:  6/0 Danville in either Fluorescent Orange, Red, Olive, Brown, or Black.

Rib:  Small silver wire.

Wing Case/Emergent Wing:  Natural CDC Puff.

Thorax:  Single Peacock Hurl from just below the eye area.

This is an extremely versatile pattern.  It can be tied in a range of colors and sizes to imitate emerging may flies and midges.  My two favorite colors are orange and olive.  It’s just a great fly that’s relatively easy to tie.

Begin by winding your thread body leaving an eye-length space behind the eye.  Take some wraps rearward and clip off the tag.  End your wraps at around the hook point.  It’s here that your going to tie in your Silver wire to be used as a rib.  Secure the wire by making thread wraps well down into the hook bend.  Then bring your thread back up the shank even with the hook point. 

With your wire, make open spiral thread wraps to segment the body.  When you reach your tying thread, make several tight wraps around the wire, then ‘helicopter’ the wire to break it off.  Select a single CDC puff to be used for your fly’s wing case and emergent wing.  The puff should be at least as long as the body.  You are going to tie it in by the butt end with the tips facing rearward.  Take several tight wraps with your thread to anchor it.  Once tied in double check the length to make sure you will have enough length for the wing case and emergent wing.  Bring the CDC back towards the wing of the fly.  Clip off the butt end.  For the thorax of the fly, select a single strand of Peacock Hurl next to the eye of the feather.  Secure it with the butt end.  Wrap it forward several times to create a dense thorax area.  Tie it off with your thread with several wraps.  Cut off the butt end. 

Now, grab hold of the CDC by the tips and bring if forward over the Peacock and eye of the hook.  Take two wraps with your thread behind the eye.  With your dubbing needle, wiggle/insert it under the wing case and lift it up a little.  This creates a small bulge which will often carry and air bubble.  Next, pull the emergent wing rearward and make some anchoring wraps behind the eye.  Finally, make a 4-5 wrap whip finish and cut off the tag end of the thread.    

‘Tightlinevideo’ has a great video on how to tie this fly 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 at pdinice@frontier.com .