DRY FLIES
BLACK
GNAT
The Common Blowfly, the Marchfly and the Horsefly are
all members of the Order Diptera of "True Flies". Whilst some of the
lava and pupae are aquatic or semi aquatic and are represented by
various flies that are fished as nymphs or wet flies all are
terrestrial in their adult form. These terrestrial flies are widely
distributed and often fall, alight or are blown onto the water and
find themselves on the "shopping list" for various fish.
My
favorite representation for
these black flies and of a number of other dark terrestrial insects is the Black
Gnat.
MATERIALS:
Hook - Size 14-16 dry
fly
Thread - Black
Body - Peacock herl
Beard - Black Hackle
Wing- Black feather slips
Hackle - Black
A)
-
Starting at the 95% position wind the thread
in touching turns to the bend of the hook and
then return the thread back toward the eye of the hook to the 3/4
position.
-
Tie in a number of peacock herl and tie the along the top of the hook
shank forming an underbody.
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B)
-
Form the herl into a rope and wind the rope along the shank of the
hook forming a cigar shaped body.
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Tie the herl off at the 3/4 position and trim the excess.
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C)
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Dub on a cigar shaped seals fur body stopping just
behind the wing.
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Tie in the hackle and then lightly dub around the
wing and just in front of it.
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D)
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Wind the hackle equally behind and in front of the
wing and tie off behind the eye of the hook and trim the tag end.
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Build up a neat head.
-
Whip finish and varnish the head.
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