VISIBLE FUR ANT
Being extremely nearsighted I am always looking for ways to see small flies or flush floating terrestrials. Lefty Kreh mentioned the use of a crystal flash post in ADVANCED FLY FISHING TECHNIQUES. The idea of tying a synthetic post under the shank and bringing it up around the shank to minimize bulk came from a tutorial on Charley Cravens web site, Charley's fly box. The crystal flash post catches the light as the fly bobs along so that I get a glimpse of it every couple of seconds even when I can't see the body of the fly on the water.
Materials:
- Hook: standard dry fly size ten to twenty
- Thread: 6/0 to match dubbing
- Abdomen and thorax: dry fly dubbing of choice to match natural insect
- Visible post: pearlescent crystal flash
- Hackle: cock hackle to match natural
1. Sharpen and debarb hook as usual. Cover hook shank with thread and bring thread to center of shank
2. Take 1/2 of a single strand of pearl crystal flash
3. Fold strand over twice to make four strands
4. Tie the center of this folded strand under the hook shank
5. Pull the strands up on both sides of the hook and form a post
6. Dub an abdomen on the rear 3/8 of hook
7. Tie in a hackle next to the post
8. Take a turn of hackle before and behind the post, tie off and cut off hackle
9. Dub the thorax on the front 1/4 of hook
10. Whip finish, cut thread and cement if desired
11. I often cut off the bottom hackle for fishing slower water
For more great info, check out:
Beginning Fly Tying | Intermediate Fly Tying | Advanced Fly Tying.