Instructions on how to tie a seasonally timely fly
Foam Head Sedge
By Elaine Cook
Foam Head Sedge
By Elaine Cook
This was one of the patterns that our guest speaker, Alice Conba, presented to our fly tying class. It looks like an interesting pattern that is simple to tie. Alice proclaims great success with this pattern for trout.
Hook: TMC 100 or 102, sizes 11-18
Thread: Black or olive, 8/0
Post: Closed cell yellow foam, 2 mm thick
Body: Grey fox squirrel
Wing: Deer hair
Thorax: Peacock herl
1. Crimp barb
2. Apply thread from the rear of shank to the eye of hook, then 1/3 back
3. Cut foam into 2 mm strip
4. Cut taper at one end for 2-3 mm
5. Lay tapered end on top of hook shank so that the tapered end of foam is 1/3 hook shank back from the eye
6. Bind foam down tightly up to hook eye
7. Return thread to rear of shank
8. Dub a generous body up to foam
9. Select clump of deer hair. Clean out under fur. Stack tips
10. Measure deer hair equal to entire length of hook
11. Lay deer hair on top of hook shank with tips to rear and measured length just in front of junction of foam and body. Tie in place, avoiding lots of flaring. Cut butt ends and tie down
12. Select 3 strands of herl. Lay butt ends on top of foam with tip extending to rear. Tie in place leaving the thread hanging behind the eye
13. Wrap peacock around shank starting 1/3 hook shank back from eye in such a manner as to bunch the deer hair to keep from flaring. Keep wrapping forward to eye. Tie off, cut excess
14. Wrap thread in wide wraps, hook shank to rear
15. Pull foam backward and bind to peacock in only that place with several wraps
16. Whip finish, cut thread. Pulling on foam gently at an angle up, cut it near whip finished thread.