How to Tie: Dale Fulton’s Arkansas Beadhead
What You’ll Need
Hook
TMC 9394 NP Sz. 4,6,8
WINGS
Two colors of marabou. (This one is gray and white)
EYES
Flat stick on eyes (Silver Prism) 3/32
THROAT
Red Thread
THREAD
UTC 70 red
BODY
Holographic Chenille (silver) Medium
[dnxtiep_ultimate_image_hover dnxtiep_uih_image=”https://flysandguides.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/11/Arkansas-Beadhead-step-1-square.jpg” dnxtiep_uih_image_hover_effect=”effect-18″ dnxtiep_uih_bg_overlay=”rgba(0,0,0,0)” dnxtiep_uih_image_opacity=”1 ” _builder_version=”4.6.5″ _module_preset=”default” hover_text_fonts_text_color=”#ffffff” hover_text_fonts_font_size=”36px” border_width_all=”1px” border_color_all=”#ffffff” box_shadow_style=”preset1″ box_shadow_color=”rgba(255,255,255,0.3)”][/dnxtiep_ultimate_image_hover]
Step 1
First thing you want to do is get your thread started and advance it to the back. You will want to tie all the way to the bend. Once you get to the bend you are ready to tie in your chenille. You will want to leave a little bit of thread showing at the bend so make a few more turns to build a thread base.
[dnxtiep_ultimate_image_hover dnxtiep_uih_image=”https://flysandguides.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/11/Arkansas-Beadhead-step-2-square.jpg” dnxtiep_uih_image_hover_effect=”effect-18″ dnxtiep_uih_bg_overlay=”rgba(0,0,0,0)” dnxtiep_uih_image_opacity=”1 ” _builder_version=”4.6.5″ _module_preset=”default” hover_text_fonts_text_color=”#ffffff” hover_text_fonts_font_size=”36px” border_width_all=”1px” border_color_all=”#ffffff” box_shadow_style=”preset1″ box_shadow_color=”rgba(255,255,255,0.3)”][/dnxtiep_ultimate_image_hover]
Step 2
Tie in your chenille. Make sure you only tie in the core of the chenille. If you just tie in the chenille without peeling some off the sides you will have a fat section starting at the bend. Kind of like a big butt we like to call it. It will not taper right. You want the body to stay even all the way up
[dnxtiep_ultimate_image_hover dnxtiep_uih_image=”https://flysandguides.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/11/Arkansas-Beadhead-step-3-square.jpg” dnxtiep_uih_image_hover_effect=”effect-18″ dnxtiep_uih_bg_overlay=”rgba(0,0,0,0)” dnxtiep_uih_image_opacity=”1 ” _builder_version=”4.6.5″ _module_preset=”default” hover_text_fonts_text_color=”#ffffff” hover_text_fonts_font_size=”36px” border_width_all=”1px” border_color_all=”#ffffff” box_shadow_style=”preset1″ box_shadow_color=”rgba(255,255,255,0.3)”][/dnxtiep_ultimate_image_hover]
Step 3
If you notice on the shank, you can se how I tie in the core of the chenille. It is the white part you see on the hook shank. It doesn’t build the body. It stay’s flat.
[dnxtiep_ultimate_image_hover dnxtiep_uih_image=”https://flysandguides.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/11/Arkansas-Beadhead-step-4-square.jpg” dnxtiep_uih_image_hover_effect=”effect-18″ dnxtiep_uih_bg_overlay=”rgba(0,0,0,0)” dnxtiep_uih_image_opacity=”1 ” _builder_version=”4.6.5″ _module_preset=”default” hover_text_fonts_text_color=”#ffffff” hover_text_fonts_font_size=”36px” border_width_all=”1px” border_color_all=”#ffffff” box_shadow_style=”preset1″ box_shadow_color=”rgba(255,255,255,0.3)”][/dnxtiep_ultimate_image_hover]
Step 4
Advance the thread up to the front. Don’t go all the way up to the head because you will still need to create a bullet head. Just look at the picture to see where I stopped. Wrap the chenille up to that point and cut the excess off.
[dnxtiep_ultimate_image_hover dnxtiep_uih_image=”https://flysandguides.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/11/Arkansas-Beadhead-step-5-square.jpg” dnxtiep_uih_image_hover_effect=”effect-18″ dnxtiep_uih_bg_overlay=”rgba(0,0,0,0)” dnxtiep_uih_image_opacity=”1 ” _builder_version=”4.6.5″ _module_preset=”default” hover_text_fonts_text_color=”#ffffff” hover_text_fonts_font_size=”36px” border_width_all=”1px” border_color_all=”#ffffff” box_shadow_style=”preset1″ box_shadow_color=”rgba(255,255,255,0.3)”][/dnxtiep_ultimate_image_hover]
Step 5
The type of marabou we are using is the wooly bugger marabou. If you notice I already stripped the sides where the fluffy stuff was. We only want to use the longer stuff. Tie it in just how you see it on the picture. I tie it in at the stem of the marabou.
[dnxtiep_ultimate_image_hover dnxtiep_uih_image=”https://flysandguides.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/11/Arkansas-Beadhead-step-6-square.jpg” dnxtiep_uih_image_hover_effect=”effect-18″ dnxtiep_uih_bg_overlay=”rgba(0,0,0,0)” dnxtiep_uih_image_opacity=”1 ” _builder_version=”4.6.5″ _module_preset=”default” hover_text_fonts_text_color=”#ffffff” hover_text_fonts_font_size=”36px” border_width_all=”1px” border_color_all=”#ffffff” box_shadow_style=”preset1″ box_shadow_color=”rgba(255,255,255,0.3)”][/dnxtiep_ultimate_image_hover]
Step 6
Repeat the same step with the other color of marabou. Tie it on the underside in the same spot you tied the white one on. Once you do this you should still have some room to advance the thread up to the eye. Wind up to the eye and make sure you tie in the entire stem showing so it doesn’t slip
[dnxtiep_ultimate_image_hover dnxtiep_uih_image=”https://flysandguides.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/11/Arkansas-Beadhead-step-7-square.jpg” dnxtiep_uih_image_hover_effect=”effect-18″ dnxtiep_uih_bg_overlay=”rgba(0,0,0,0)” dnxtiep_uih_image_opacity=”1 ” _builder_version=”4.6.5″ _module_preset=”default” hover_text_fonts_text_color=”#ffffff” hover_text_fonts_font_size=”36px” border_width_all=”1px” border_color_all=”#ffffff” box_shadow_style=”preset1″ box_shadow_color=”rgba(255,255,255,0.3)”][/dnxtiep_ultimate_image_hover]
Step 7
You can’t really see the step to good, but once you have tied in the two strips of marabou, go ahead and get the thread back to where it was just before you tied in the marabou. You are going to fold one piece of marabou over and tie it in. And then repeat the same step on the underside. You can’t fold both strands over at the same time because you will see your thread wraps on one side and you also see the mistake you made. When you fold those over, the key is to hide your thread wraps.
[dnxtiep_ultimate_image_hover dnxtiep_uih_image=”https://flysandguides.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/11/Arkansas-Beadhead-step-8-square.jpg” dnxtiep_uih_image_hover_effect=”effect-18″ dnxtiep_uih_bg_overlay=”rgba(0,0,0,0)” dnxtiep_uih_image_opacity=”1 ” _builder_version=”4.6.5″ _module_preset=”default” hover_text_fonts_text_color=”#ffffff” hover_text_fonts_font_size=”36px” border_width_all=”1px” border_color_all=”#ffffff” box_shadow_style=”preset1″ box_shadow_color=”rgba(255,255,255,0.3)”][/dnxtiep_ultimate_image_hover]
Step 8
You can’t really see the step to good, but once you have tied in the two strips of marabou, go ahead and get the thread back to where it was just before you tied in the marabou. You are going to fold one piece of marabou over and tie it in. And then repeat the same step on the underside. You can’t fold both strands over at the same time because you will see your thread wraps on one side and you also see the mistake you made. When you fold those over, the key is to hide your thread wraps
[dnxtiep_ultimate_image_hover dnxtiep_uih_image=”https://flysandguides.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/11/Arkansas-Beadhead-step-9-square.jpg” dnxtiep_uih_image_hover_effect=”effect-18″ dnxtiep_uih_bg_overlay=”rgba(0,0,0,0)” dnxtiep_uih_image_opacity=”1 ” _builder_version=”4.6.5″ _module_preset=”default” hover_text_fonts_text_color=”#ffffff” hover_text_fonts_font_size=”36px” border_width_all=”1px” border_color_all=”#ffffff” box_shadow_style=”preset1″ box_shadow_color=”rgba(255,255,255,0.3)”][/dnxtiep_ultimate_image_hover]
Step 9
If you do see a few loose strands, go ahead and trim those out. After you are done doing this you are ready to build a little collar of thread to represent a gill. Tie off and you’re ready to put some flat stick on eyes
[dnxtiep_ultimate_image_hover dnxtiep_uih_image=”https://flysandguides.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/11/Arkansas-Beadhead-step-10-square.jpg” dnxtiep_uih_image_hover_effect=”effect-18″ dnxtiep_uih_bg_overlay=”rgba(0,0,0,0)” dnxtiep_uih_image_opacity=”1 ” _builder_version=”4.6.5″ _module_preset=”default” hover_text_fonts_text_color=”#ffffff” hover_text_fonts_font_size=”36px” border_width_all=”1px” border_color_all=”#ffffff” box_shadow_style=”preset1″ box_shadow_color=”rgba(255,255,255,0.3)”][/dnxtiep_ultimate_image_hover]
Step 10
Stick the eyes on each
[dnxtiep_ultimate_image_hover dnxtiep_uih_image=”https://flysandguides.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/11/Arkansas-Beadhead-step-11-square.jpg” dnxtiep_uih_image_hover_effect=”effect-18″ dnxtiep_uih_bg_overlay=”rgba(0,0,0,0)” dnxtiep_uih_image_opacity=”1 ” _builder_version=”4.6.5″ _module_preset=”default” hover_text_fonts_text_color=”#ffffff” hover_text_fonts_font_size=”36px” border_width_all=”1px” border_color_all=”#ffffff” box_shadow_style=”preset1″ box_shadow_color=”rgba(255,255,255,0.3)”][/dnxtiep_ultimate_image_hover]
Step 11
Apply a small coat of epoxy on the head. I do the top, then the bottom and then the sides. Some of the epoxy will set into the epoxy so you might have to do another coat depending on the amount you applied the first time. If you do, let the first coat dry before applying and new coat
[dnxtiep_ultimate_image_hover dnxtiep_uih_image=”https://flysandguides.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/11/Arkansas-Beadhead-step-12-square.jpg” dnxtiep_uih_image_hover_effect=”effect-18″ dnxtiep_uih_bg_overlay=”rgba(0,0,0,0)” dnxtiep_uih_image_opacity=”1 ” _builder_version=”4.6.5″ _module_preset=”default” hover_text_fonts_text_color=”#ffffff” hover_text_fonts_font_size=”36px” border_width_all=”1px” border_color_all=”#ffffff” box_shadow_style=”preset1″ box_shadow_color=”rgba(255,255,255,0.3)”][/dnxtiep_ultimate_image_hover]