The Usual

The Usual

By Fran Betters, submitted by Zak.

Description

Fran Betters' Usual fly is tied with orange thread and just one material: snowshoe rabbit foot. When wet, the thread color shows through the sparse dubbing.

Tying Process

Attach thread at eye of hook, wrap back to midpoint of shank, then wrap forward to about 2-3 eye lengths from the eye. Clip a tuft of crinkly snowshoe hair from the pad of the foot. Holding the tips of hair tightly, pull the underfur out and save it for later. Tie in with tips facing forward over the eye. Take eight tight touching turns of thread back toward the bend to secure the wing, then clip the butts on an angle (saving the clipped material) and continue wrapping thread to the bend of the hook. Clip a smaller amount of hair for the tail. Tie in and take touching turns toward the eye. Dub the stripped out and clipped fur onto the thread and dub a sparse body. Dub a very small head to prop the wing up. Whip finish and SHHAN.

Materials

Target species: Trout

Fly types: Dry Fly