Fire Fly
Created by Tom Deschaine, Westland, MI
Previous Flies
Fly Tying Terms

It actually took several years for me to develop this pattern. As simple as it is, it started out as a much more complex pattern. I scrapped design after design until I got the floatability and color just right. It's designed as a generalized beetle pattern and may be used at any time a beetle is called for. The one major difference I incorporated into this fly is that the overbody is tied with yellow, glow-in-the-dark Flashabou.

The coloration, from the fishes point of view, very closely resembles the natural coloration of three of common genera of North American fire flies (Photuis, Photuris, and Photinus).

Material List:

    Hook: Mustad #94840 or #94833

    Thread: Tan, 6/0.

    Underbody: Natural Deer Hair.

    Overbody: Yellow, glow-in-the-dark Flashabou.

    Shellback: Same Deer Hair, pulled forward over the body.

    Head: Tan Thread.

Method:

    Step #1: Lay down a good bed of thread on the hook. This prevents material slippage while tying.

    Step #2: Clip some deer hair from the hide, place it in your hair stacker. Tie in the hair; butts near the eye of the hook and tips extending beyond the shank of the hook. Trim off the deer hair butts.

    Step #3: Tie in the 'Flashabou' near the rear of the shank and wrap forward, slightly overlapping each wrap. Tie off with thread.

    Step #4: Grasp the deer hair tips, pull them forward.

    Step #5: Tie the deer hair off in the thorax region. From this point on you have two choices. You can do the standard 'Fire Fly' or you can do it in parachute style (which will be discussed a little later).

    Step #7: Clip the deer hair caddis style, whip finish the head, and lacquer the shellback. Add head cement.

    Finished fly.

Tying and Fishing Tips

I don't normally use synthetic materials in my fly tying. The problem being, synthetic materials are here today and gone tomorrow. 'Flashabou' however, has been around for a long time … and is probably here to stay. If you examine the underbody of the fly, you'll find that the 'Flashabou' provides a natural looking segmentation as well as providing nighttime illumination.

The fly is a great floater, easy to tie, and a super producer during any evening 'fire fly' display. Charge it up with a flashlight and you're good for 3 to 4 minutes.

See you on the water… ~ Tom Deschaine

For more great flies, check out: Beginning Fly Tying, Intermediate Fly Tying and Advanced Fly Tying.