Wired Olive
Hook: Grip 14723BL #14
Thread: Benecchi 12/0, black
Hackle: Hen, black
Abdomen: UTC Ultra-wire, olive, small
Thorax: Seal’s fur, mix of black and green - in split thread
Video here - best viewed in HD, and a larger window:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V0vDCWqBSQY
Cheers,
Hans W
Hans,
Love the video; tying the hackle in on the second turn (anything that conserves thread wraps is golden), tying the wire in underneath with the tag end on the far side of the bend to really align it with the hook shank (I always tie it in on top and thread torque tends to shift it, which I have to try and adjust with fingernail pressure). Besides the fact that it’s a cool bug, it’s amazing how much you teach with just a simple fly using only a few materials.
Regards,
Scott
Scott,
It is in fact the first turn if you pay close attention to where the thread hits the shank. There will not be any thread in front, nor indeed underneath the stem 
tying the wire in underneath with the tag end on the far side of the bend to really align it with the hook shank
Well spotted - you are fighting the torque, where I am using the torque. Makes more sense to me 
Your mission, Jim, if you care to accept it… find a third useful technique in the video.
Cheers,
Hans W
Hans,
Great job! Hoping not to hijack this thread of yours, but am wondering: Are given insects larger in Eruo waters than US waters? That is, insect for insect, is there a general size difference? I ask because it seems that a lot of Eruo patterns are tied (and fished) in larger sizes, for a given insect, than I experience here while trying to imitate the size of the given insect. Most obvious, to me, are the caddis/sedge patterns I see by Euro tiers - often tied in size 12. Now, there are certain caddis here which can certainly reach that size, but the more normal size is 18 - 14 in my fishing experiences.
Thanks
If you like, you could answer by PM and I could later erase this post to keep the thread pure.
LOL
Not at all, Byron - here is fine.
The insects in Europe are no different, ranging from minute Caenis and tiny midges to whopping big Ephemera Danica mayflies and serious sized stoneflies.
I believe the difference is historic. The English patterns were introduced in North America. The move to tying on smaller size hooks when they became available came easier to the not so stuck in the past North American tiers, while in England there really was little movement for many decades. I believe there has now started a convergence.
Likewise the catch & release approach has been rather slow to catch on in England, where it was very swiftly adopted on the European mainland in many regions.
Tying/fishing smaller and C&R seems to have some correlation in my mind.
Cheers,
Hans W
Very reasonable answer. Have always wondered. I think you are right, though, because the “Old Guys” of our West - before fishing pressure - sure used big flies.
Thanks again…now back to your beautiful fly.
Hans is right. It is probably more due to tradition here. While we have just as wide a range of sizes most of our insects are different species. Unfortunately often with the same common name. It causes some confusion.
Also there is a predominance of fishing still waters for stocked rainbow trout here. For much of the time imitation isn’t the driving force. Probably more than we would like to admit are caught by aggression. A look in the angling press here will show this, there is a predominance of lures, mini lures and attractor patterns. I have heard it said that much of what goes on here is spinning with fly rods. There is a thriving competition scene still based on catch and kill. Personally what passes for fly fishing here disgusts me sometimes.
Cheers,
A.
Hans,
Angling the wire slightly to the back while wrapping? That definitely helps create a tighter looking body. I used to let the bobbin hang down where I started wrapping the wire and the pressure from the thread helped keep the wire wraps tight against each other as I moved up the body; by just shifting the angle as you show, you achieve the same goal without having to work around the bobbin.
I thought it was either that or flattening the thread with your fingernail before splitting (I run my half-hitch tool under the thread to spread the fibers before I split with needle).
Regards,
Scott
Scott,
Try one more time?
Cheers,
Hans W
1:03 - “trim both the thread and the stem” ?
Regards,
Scott
chuckle
Nope.
Observe how I tie off the wire after wrapping (2:49), or if not clear, review some of the other videos on my channel.
Cheers,
Hans W