Fly #7 in the Series
So far we have tied a series of streamer style flys, imitating aquatic life that resides below the surface, and a number of dry fly patterns, fished on the surface. They all have the potential to catch numerous species of fish in Canada. Today’s fly, the Egg fly, is the 7th and the last in our series. I didn’t actually see myself using this fly this year so I put it last on the list and then I cheated. I also wasn’t planning on cheating but while at the dollar store looking for some gag gift items, I saw bright colored Neon Poms and it became clear, time to cheat.
Tying the Egg Fly
The actual pattern recipe calls for using Egg Yarn, tie it on and trim into the shape of a ball. That’s it, but I took one more step on the easy path, buying pre-made puff balls. At first I tried the larger size puff balls but they were just too big and too cumbersome so I switched to the smaller size.
The article in Outdoor Canada showed yellow balls. I used both yellow and pinkish red color.
Difficulty Level: 1 out of 5. If you follow the actual instructions and use egg yard, the difficulty level will go up to 1.1.
Materials:
- dry fly hooks, #8 to #12. I used a #12 to make two of the neon pom balls fit comfortably on the shaft of the hook
- Neon Pom balls from the DollarStore
- color matching thread, I used white thread on the yellow balls and red thread on the red balls.
After you pinch off all the hook barbs, place the hook in the vice. Starting just behind the eye, build up wraps of thread larger than the diameter of the eye. This will help keep the puff ball from sliding forward and off the hook.
Now remove the hook from the vice and slide on two of the colored puff balls side by side. Pass the tying thread around one puff ball and add approximately 10 wraps between the balls.
Pass the thread behind the second puff ball and build up the wraps of thread to prevent the puff ball from sliding back.
Pass the thread to the middle again, add a couple wraps, pass to the eye of the hook and wind on 2 or three additional wraps then whip finish the thread. i then add head cement to both the head thread wraps as well as those behind the second ball. I use more cement than on a normal fly to get some adhesion between the thread and the puff ball to further prevent slipping.
In the flybox, now you can you can see a full compliment of the 7 Flies That Catch Fish in Canada. Some are a bit tattered, having been in the battle, and some have yet to see action, or have yet to fool a fish. 