As I was Tying the other Crease Flies, I got to thinking…commercial Panfish Poppers are basically just smaller versions of Bass Poppers. Why mess with wood, or pre-formed bodies, if a Crease Fly pattern could be developed in the proper diminutive sizes?
So, I decided to see just how small I could tie a Crease Fly. Here are the results:
Crease Black Magic
Crease Purple Peril
Crease Red Menace
Crease Tree Froggie
Crease Psychopathfinder
Size Comparisen with a US Quarter
They were all tied on # 8 Dry Fly Hooks. I’m gonna test them out this weekend.
Life is not measured by how many breaths we take, but by the moments that take our breath away…
Pretty much. I made them exactly like the regular sized ones, only smaller, and I used different colors of foam. I have sent in a Tutorial for Crease Flies for a FOTW, but they haven’t used it, yet. If you want, I can PM the instructions to you. Like I said, it’s the same, only smaller for these. Oh, and the legs were just threaded through the body. I used my leg knotter tool.
Those look great. I have just acquired some 1mm foam and found a source of .5mm foam. Looks like it might be possible to get down to size 14 hooks or even smaller for the crease fly.
There is no doubt in my mind that those mini Crease Flies will catch fish! I have not been real successful with those that I have tied because mine want to lay over on their side in the water instead of staying upright. I have not figured out yet what I am doing wrong, but, will keep at it.
I’m with you completely on Crease Flies. They are a great freshwater popper and a wonderful imitation of just about any bait fish. I also like to hang a second, sinking fly from Crease Flies because of their excellent buoyancy. That second fly give you a real two for one punch. I’ve never thought about putting rubber legs on my Crease Flies. What a great idea! Keep up the innovative tying. 8T
I have already submitted instructions for Freshwater-sized Crease Flies. They just haven’t used them, yet. You tie these the same, except you can omit the foil step, and use non adhesive-backed thin foam, in appropriate colors.
I could make a special set of instructions and submit them. It will take me a few days, but I’ll get right on it.
I didn’t do it this time because I have already sent in several sets, and I don’t want the publishers to think I’m trying to hog the show, or be a pest. But making the How-Tos is a lot of fun. And it’s good practice for when I write my Fly Tying Book (someday).
I was thinking along those lines, myself. I just don’t have a source for that thickness nearby. 2mm is as thin as I can get without going online.
I’d be curious as to how they turn out. Let me know, and I will try it myself as well. It should work just fine, with the exception of finding Stick-On eyes small enough. You may have to just draw them with a marker on flies that small.
The trick to crease flies is to set the body up as high on the hook shank as possible, with as much foam above the shank as possible. You also want to make sure the ‘mouth’ is fully open, to give the body a round cross-section. This allows the hook bend to act as a keel, and keep the fly upright.
Hear is a mini (micro) crease fly tied with 1mm foam. This example is tied on a size 12 TMC 200R hook. The eyes are 3/32 prismatic stick on eyes. The color is sharpie markers and acrylic paint. This is topped with clear acrylic glitter paint which is then topped with 3 or 4 thin coats of Loon Hard Head, which is easier to work with than epoxy on the small guys.
I have determined this is the smallest I can work with my hands. The 1mm foam would work an a size 14 streamer hook. The 1mm foam is much more user friendly for the smaller sizes since it bends easier.
