MATERIALS LIST:

Hook            Mustad 3906B #12 - 16

Tail/Shuck    Cream Antron or other synthetic yarn          

Abdomen     Pearsall’s Gossamer Silk - Primrose

Ribbing        Same as above, dark cobblers wax applied to thread

Thorax         Small glass bead

Hackle         Hungarian Partridge neck feather, natural

Head            Peacock herl from an eye feather

1. 1) Place bead on hook and secure the Pearsall’s silk thread.  Thread should be started back on the body far enough to build the head in the last step.  An easy way to measure is to push the bead forward to the eye then start the thread one bead width back from the bead, about 2mm with a #14 3609B as shown here.

FISHING - I fish this fly with a lot of confidence as it rarely seems to fail if the fish are present and feeding.  I generally use the traditional down and across wet fly swing varying the application based on conditions.  The fly also works well in tandem trailing a heavier wet fly. 

2. 2)Tie in a small amount of cream Antron yarn for a tail/shuck.  Secure the Antron up the length of the body.  This builds up the body a bit without using thread.  Trim the Antron at the front of the body then build up the body to a tapered shape with the silk thread.  On large flies, I often leave the front of the Antron and just push it back with the bead were it forms a nice underwing.
   

3. 3)The segmented look to the abdomen is made without a rib.  Use a small amount of dark cobblers wax to darken the primrose yellow thread to an olive color then wind forward.  On large flies, I will secure a strand of small olive wire in the first step before building the body and create a counter-wrapped wire rib.
   

4. 4)Whip finish slightly forward without overlapping the wraps.  This allows a base for a drop of cyanoacralate glue while still being able to slip the bead back flush to the body.

5. 5)Apply a small drop of cement as noted above and push the bead firmly into position.
   

6. 6)Secure a tying thread that matches the head.  Here I’m using Gudebrod 8/0 green thread.  For larger flies, I would use the same thread in 6/0.  For smaller flies, I would use a fine thread such as Bennechi.  Wrap thread to the rear, hard against the bead.
   

7. 7)Tie in the hackle by the tip and wrap a collar, stroking the fibers back as the feather is wrapped.  Secure with several wraps of thread and trim flush.
   

8. 8)Apply a couple more thread wraps back toward the bead over the hackle stem.  This increases durability and make the fibers flare more as they are pressed firmly against the glass bead.  I feel this increases the ‘bugginess’ of the fly as it moves in the water.
   

9. 9)Tie in two strands of peacock herl.  I like to use herl from an eye feather rather than bulk packaged herl.  Wrap the herl butts to the eye of the hook then trim.  Wrap the thread back to the hackle.
   

*Tip - this hook has a sharp edge to the wire at the eye that is prone to cutting thread.  When I secure the herl, I wrap the butts up to the eye such that is covers the gap in the eye including the sharp edge.

10. 10)Twist the herl a couple times to prevent it the strands from separating as they are wrapped.  With the right hand, wrap the herl IN FRONT of the tying thread in several turns toward the eye of the hook building up a nice fuzzy head.
    

11. 11) Switch the herl to your left hand, still holding it at the front near the eye.  With the right hand, wrap the tying thread through the herl with approximately three secure turns of thread.  Secure the herl at the eye of the hook, whip finish and apply a drop of head cement for durability.