02-11-2013, 01:21 AM
Here are two of my favorites that will work anywhere, and nearly any time. I even use these on the toughest of so-called "educated" fish on tail waters and spring creeks. The Buzz Ball is simply two or three different hackles wound (palmered style) around the shank of the hook. No tail, no wing, no nothing but hackle. Works for me in sizes 16 and 18. When finished, trim the hackle on the top and bottom, leaving just the fibers sticking out the sides. You can also just trim the bottom for a bigger silhouette.
The Triple Double is another favorite. Its basically a dubbed body Renegade with an extra hackle in the middle. Its body is dubbed like your ant. Wrap a back hackle, dub back body, wrap middle hackle, dub front body, wrap front hackle--Done! Be sure to leave youself enough room on the hook and at the head. Sparse dubbing, and only a few wraps of hackle at each spot.
There are others too. Griffiths gnat. Compara Duns with hackle tail, dubbed body, and wrapped hackle wing (trimmed short on the bottom again. Some searching on fly pattern data bases can show you many. You can also use stripped hackle quills for mayfly bodies, they work great!
[signature]
The Triple Double is another favorite. Its basically a dubbed body Renegade with an extra hackle in the middle. Its body is dubbed like your ant. Wrap a back hackle, dub back body, wrap middle hackle, dub front body, wrap front hackle--Done! Be sure to leave youself enough room on the hook and at the head. Sparse dubbing, and only a few wraps of hackle at each spot.
There are others too. Griffiths gnat. Compara Duns with hackle tail, dubbed body, and wrapped hackle wing (trimmed short on the bottom again. Some searching on fly pattern data bases can show you many. You can also use stripped hackle quills for mayfly bodies, they work great!
[signature]