Hackle
Common questions asked:
Should we palmer using a single or double hackle? Some folks feel a double hackle is required, I feel it's a waste of one good hackle. Use the second to tie another bomber you will probably loose the first fly. The bomber mostly floats on its body and not on the hackle at least not for long. On our waters we like this fly not to site too high up, there are those that prefer otherwise so put two hackles if you like.

What type and quality of hackle? I use saddle hackles no. 3 quality. Should the hackle be palmered towards the front or towards the rear? Should the hackle be pointing towards the rear (wet style) or towards the front (dry style) should one tie the hackle by the tip or the butt? I feel it doesn't make much of a difference with this fly which way the hackle is pointing or what direction you palmer it, as it is quite heavy and will very soon float on its body.

What I do and why is as follows; I prefer tying my hackle by the tip at the rear of the fly, once I trim the body I tie my thread at the tail, tie on my hackle wrap the thread towards the head, at the tie off position, palmer my hackle towards the head and tie it off. You can palmer from front to back, tie on your hackle by the head, wrap your thread towards the tail, palmer the hackle rearward tie off the hackle cut the remaining stem, then wrap your thread through the hackle towards the head and whip finish amend.

I face my hackle towards the rear, simply to reduce wind resistance (wet style) I also fold the hackle, it palmers easier through the deer hair, rather than sticking straight up never looks good to me that way, mind you the fish don't care.

Tying by the tip or the butt? If you have a short hackle from a neck rather than a saddle you can tie it by the tip and palmer towards the head having the longer hackle fibers ending by the head. If you have a long saddle hackle with reasonably even length fibers you can tie it by the butt and palmer forward, I tie them all by the tip.

How many wraps of hackle do I need? Size 4 hook six (6) will do, size 6 hook four (4) will do, just to keep the character of the fly, my customer's want at least ten (10) the fish can't count I think! More sometimes is not always better, but everyone has there preferences and that's great, the fish will take it anyway, I've fished them with the hackle broken and dragging behind and caught those elusive fish.

What type and size of hook? I prefer a 3X long shank. The hook should be of light wire but strong, a good low water hook will do just fine, up or down eye hook makes no difference.

How tight should the deer body hair be? Tie the clumps of deer hair at 90% thread strength so the body hair once tied will not turn easily as this will break the hackle. I do not press each clump of deer hair together very tight, it's better to have a loose body, it helps this fly float better, and everything helps.

What thread should I use? 6/0 or 3/0 monocord should do the trick.

How long should the tail and wing be? A small bunch of moderate length, no longer than the length of the body.

Tail: A small bunch of white, brown, yellow or green hair the colors depends on what combinations you are trying to achieve of moderate length.

Body: Clipped deer body hair to the desired shape, not packed to tight.

Ribbing: A saddle hackle, the color what ever you are trying to achieve tied in by the tip or butt, palmered through the clipped body hair from tail to head.

Wing: A small bunch of hair (same color as the tail) nearly as long as the body, tied in so as to extend straight forward, or straight up depending on what you are trying to achieve, these could be split or single wings.

Head: Color of choice.

1. Attach the thread and lay down a thread base to the rear of the fly. Attach the wire for the tag.
2. Apply the tag and tie in the tail.
3. Tie on the floss with the tag end to the rear of the fly as shown. Wrap the floss to the rear leaving the tag end protruding. Pull the tag over the top of the floss as shown in the close shot of the butt. This will keep the floss from "falling off" the rear of the fly. This technique works on other flies as well particularly where the floss does not have a high rib to fall against and keep it in place.
4. Repeat step three with the red floss.
5. Wrap an underbody if you are using dubbing.
6. Tie on a hackle a short distance from the rear of the body.
7. Dub the body in a cigar shape as shown.
8. After wrapping the hackle forward, tie off and trim. Finished dubbed body Bug shown.
9. Back to the Bomber. Tie on the tail and wing as shown.
10. Stand up and divide the wings as shown and tie on a bunch of Deer hair and spin it as shown.
11. Repeat step 10 as many times as needed.
12. Shape the body as shown. Attach the thread at slightly short of the end of the body and tie on one or two hackles, tie off and trim.
13. Wrap the hackle/s forward fairly closely being sure to work the shaft into the body well. Tie off and finish as shown.
14. Back to the more conventional Bug. Tie on the tail and spin one bunch of Deer hair.
15. Repeat step 14 as often as needed.
16. Shape the body, reattach the thread and tie on one or two hackles as shown.
17. Wrap the hackle forward, tie off and finish the fly.