For a fly this size, you could use ultra chenille or one of those pre-made extended bodies, but for the bigger stuff like skwalas, goldens or salmonflies, the chenille wouldn’t be big enough and these are kinda fun to make so why not? Just have to find the right platform for the plus size stones; I’m thinking plastic golf tees.
hook - Dai Riki 135 #16
thread/rib - UTC 70 hopper yellow
abdomen - extended body (DIY used here)
thread
GE Bath and Tub silicone
Congo Hair pale yellow
Stalcup Microfine Dubbing pale yellow
wing - deer hair bleached
hackle - light ginger
Part 1
There’s a few different ways to make the body; here’s one that’s worked pretty well for me
place needle in vise and coat with wax (Mucilin used here)
start thread
tie in some Congo Hair strands (or whatever synth yarn you care to use); keep it sparse
cover with thread and trim
insert needle into a tube of silicone and coat
pull out some dubbing (longer-fibered synth stuff works best for me), let it touch needle and start rotating to create body; if you don’t have a rotary vise, a variable speed drill works fine
I bought a big tube of GE Silicone caulk last week for small household project and was wondering how I was going to use all of that stuff! Now I know…but boy, is that messy on your fingers – just don’t want to accidentally get it my other fly tying materials.
I just had another thought. I wonder how this technique would work using a porcupine quill in the center? They are very thin, and float, so you could probably build a pretty thin tapered body over one.
That’s the first time I’ve seen a thread base or silicone used on one of those detached bodies. The method I’ve used for the past 10 years or so uses just long staple fine dubbing, Fly Rite, or Superfine usually, dubbed straight onto the needle then soaked in 1:1 mix of PVA and water. For other uses you can include tails and a rib as you dub the body. C&F Even make a special tool for this job.
I like that pattern though, nice and simple. Several variations come to mind that I could use here.
Nice tutorial on extended body techniques, Scott. A bit of vernille could also solve the problem with much less effort, a la Andy Burk’s yellow sally pattern.
Burk’s fly and the Palomino series are cool flies. I mentioned ultra chenille in the intro (isn’t that the same as vernille?) but this is more of a first attempt at the process; with the bigger stoneflies, chenille’s not what I’m looking for and with the right body form (the golf tee worked pretty well, btw) this has possibilities. I still like the Carnage stonefly better, but this is fun to play around with.
