How to make a weedguard

MAKING WEEDGUARDS
I get asked a lot, so I thought it might be useful to offer fly tyers some weedguard suggestions.
The materials below are based on an average bass popper using a size 1 or 2 hook.
If you?re not in the weeds, you do not need a weedguard and a bare hook means better hookup percentage.
Weedguards do not make a fly weedless, they allow the fly to work over/through large stemmed weeds, lily pads and such. it may help some with hydrilla and duckweed (but why you would be fishing there is the question) but will not help much with coontail and milfoil.

SINGLE STRAND GUARD
1. Cut an 8" strand of 40-50# test mono. [You always want it too long rather than too short.]
2. Lay down a thread base on the hook shaft.
3. Put a light layer of CA glue on the thread. [This is optional, but I always do it.]
4. Put one end of the mono on TOP of the hook shank and overwrap with thread. Bend back about 1/4" of mono and overwrap. You should have about 3/16" of mono laid on top of the shank.
5. Let the remaining mono hang below the hook.
6. Attach tail materials and popper head. Make sure you leave shank uncovered [1/4"-3/16"]in front of the popper head. [You will have cut the thread to put on the head and after the head is attached, make a new thread wrap in front of the head.]
7. Bring the mono under the hook to the eye. The bottom of the crescent of mono under the hook should come just below the hook point. Too big a gap between the bottom of the crescent and the hook will elminiate weedlessness.[HINT: Go around the side of the vise. Some vises have a support piece between the arms of the vice. If you put the mono through the vise and it has such a support, you will not be able to get your fly off the vise.]
8. For large eyed hooks, bring the mono through the eye and back toward the head. Wrap over the "U" you have made with the mono and cut off the excess short enough that you can overwrap all of the mono. Coat the thread wraps with head cement or Sally Hansen?s.
9. If you have a small eyed hook, after step 6, bring the mono under the shaft and make several wraps, then bend it back over the top of the shaft and cover completely with thread (after cutting off the excess) and coat with head cement.

DOUBLE STRAND GUARD
1. Cut a 12" strand of 20-30# test mono. [Again, you always want it too long rather than too short. I have used mono as light as 12# test with acceptable results on smaller poppers.]
2. Lay down a thread base on the hook shaft.
3. Put a light layer of CA glue on the thread. [This is optional, but I always do it.]
4. Fold the mono in half and put the folded end around your thread. Put the mono on TOP of the hook shank and overwrap with thread. Have about 3/16" of mono laid on top of the shank. Wrapping it around the thread helps hold it down as you start the overwrap
5. Let the remaining mono hang below the hook on either side.
6. Attach tail materials and popper head. Make sure you leave some shank uncovered [1/4"-3/16"]in front of the popper head. [You will have cut the thread to put on the head and after the head is attached, make a new thread wrap in front of the head.]
7. Bring one side of mono under the hook to the eye. The bottom of the crescent of mono under the hook should come just below the hook point. Too big a gap between the bottom of the crescent and the hook will elminiate weedlessness.
8. For large eyed hooks, bring the mono through the eye and back toward the head on the side of the shank opposite where it started. Wrap over the "U" you have made the mono and cut off the excess short enough that you can overwrap all of the mono. Repeat with the mono on the other side. By using this approach, the weedguard will flare slightly out form the hook making for an attractive looking fly, but more susceptible to hookups that manage to split the mono strands. Coat the thread wraps with Sally Hansen?s.
9. If you have a small eyed hook, after step 6, bring the mono over the shaft and make several wraps. Do the same with the other mono. Bend both back over the top of the shaft and cover completely with thread (after cutting off the excess) and coat with Sally Hansen?s.
Good luck.