How To Tie Big Dry
What You’ll Need
Hook
Standard dry fly hook # 4
Thread
Uni- thread 3/0 black
Body
Peacock herl (4 strands palmered)
Wing
1/8 “ foam cylinder and calf tail with flashabou accent
Legs
Round rubber med. (black)
Hackle
2 Grizzly hackles palmered
I use this fly in high water and in fast riffles. Throw it in the riffles and when it gets to the tail out of the riffle try skating it. That’s where you’ll get a lot of your strikes. I have caught a lot of big fish on this fly. Also, if it’s windy this fly will work just as well. Good luck!
Step 1
Start the thread somewhere in the center of the hook shank. Tie in four strands of peacock herl and wind it to the bend. Advance your thread up the front again.
Step 2
Twist the herl and wind it up 3/4 to the front of the hook. Leave a little space for the foam post. Cut off the excess.
Step 3
If you buy the pre made post from Wapsi you will just grab one and tie it in. The length you want is a little past the bend of the hook. I also cut the foam at an angle on both sides. This will help you tie it in better and the back just gives it a nice look. You don’t have to cut the back, but the front one is really important because of the way you tie it in.
Step 4
Cut about 8 to 12 strands of flashabou and tie it in. Cut it to the same length as the foam or a little past it.
Step 5
When you go to cut the calf tail, get it as long as you can, you will need it when you go to tie it. Measure it the same length as the post.
Step 6
Tie in the rubber legs on each side of the hook shank. The legs will be fairly long so make sure to cut them longer. Tie them in the center of the legs. You can trim them to your desired length after your finished with the fly.
Step 7
Once you tied in your legs you are ready to wind the hackle forward. I do about four to five turns with each one. I don’t grab both at once though. I like to wrap one and then the next one. It just makes a better profile with how the hackle will look.
Step 8
Whip finish the fly.