The technique works okay on the small stuff, too. Traditional wound hackle, clipped on the bottom, is an option if you’re not into Hacklestackers, but they’re pretty simple.
hook - Dai Riki 125 #20
thread - Danville 6/0 black
core - 4lb mono
tail - hackle fibers cream
abdomen - .5mm foam black (1mm would have been preferable)
post - tying thread
wing - Congo Hair white
hackle - grizzly (Hacklestacker)
Part 1
mash barb, start thread; put a loop in the end of a piece of mono and tie in
measure (2x hook length) some hackle fibers; tie in, tilt hook
hook loop on the gallows; wind hackle up the core (hook length) and back down
tie in a strip of foam
brush on a little Super Glue, wrap up and down the core; tie off/trim, trim mono
make a loop in the tying thread at base of abdomen; tie in hackle
I’d skip the .5mm foam if at all possible; wasn’t happy with the texture. You can stretch the 1mm thin enough for small flies like tricos (while still maintaining floatability) and it won’t look as “grainy” as the .5mm. Trico’s are pretty robust in the body and don’t have to be supermodel skinny
