Complicated tying is for others
Crane Fly larva – image by Tom Murray , Cambridge, MA.
[dropcap]I[/dropcap]’d love to be able to tie flies like Don Reed, Tim Flagler, Bob Popovics, Lefty Kreh and dozens of others whose skills dwarf mine, but I just plain enjoy the process, catching something on a fly I tied, the look and feel of the tools of the trade, as well as the minutia of it all.
Today’s video is another version of “The Mop Fly” and it’s so easy to tie that your version will be as good as Tim’s
First, I don’t use a flat thread nor do I use gray thread or gray mop clippings. I use dark brown thread and mop clippings, section them with a Sharpy white marker (dash, dash), add light brown dubbing fur (not gray), and add wire to the hook shank to aid getting the fly down where these larvae live. That combo works best for me. The alternatives to Tim’s Kinder, Gentler Mop Fly are endless.
Tim’s Recipe for Kinder, Gentler Mop Fly:
Hook: Scud/pupa hook (here a Dai-Riki #135), size 12.
Thread: Dark gray, 6/0 or 140-denier.Body: Mottled gray segment from a mop or auto wash mitt.
Head: Gray rabbit-fur dubbing.
[youtube id=”r_9F9mM9oGA” width=”620″ height=”360″]
