Has anyone ever tried using a small-size V-rib material for the body of this fly instead of the traditional floss? Yes, it’s significantly more bulky but wouldn’t durability be increased?
I am going to try and tie a few with tinsel underbody and red v-rib body…
(Sorry, I don’t have many folks to bounce random ideas off of! LOL)
Quivira,
I think those would look nice. Another way to get a durable body is to use a fwe strands of Krystal Flash twisted together and then wrapped towards the eye of the hook as a body material.
Hi Quivira Kid,
One way to make the floss body much more durable is to treat it with head cement. This is often done in the case of the classic floss body streamers such as the llama or other classic Maine streamers.
If you do this, use trational lacquer based head cement. Also make sure that you are using nylon floss instead of the much older acetate floss. Acetate floss will “melt” somewhat with head cement. More modern materials will not.
Often the body will darken a little with the head cement treatment. A layer of white thread on the hook, and under the floss will help, but will not completely fix the darkening.
If you try the head cement treatment, it must be allowed to dry thoroughly before going on to the next tying step. Sometimes two coats are needed. Use thin coats, don’t slather it on.
Have you done any good on gills with the Cajun Coachman? It is highly recommended in various books on bluegill fishing.
Regards,
Gandolf
heres one of my blog entries for epoxying floss for streamers but should work for your fly
i think it will work out just fine. small vrib doesnt have that much bulk.
Wapsi stretch tubing can be stretched pretty thin as well … makes a purty body,
Some great ideas guys, as always! I appreciate it a lot.
Gandolf, I haven’t tried them yet. But that’s the plan! It seems like a nice flashy kind of fly for them.
Quivira,
I use the Cajun Coachman for bluegills both in ponds and in moving water. This is a great Tom Nixon design that the 'gills just hammer. One thing though, this fly only looks pretty on the vise and before the first fish, after that, the woodduck wing tends to get disheveled but the fly still fishes great.
I have also taken brook trout with this fly - specially in the fall.
I tie a Red A** using red D-Rib. Looks like a mosquito that had a meal.