What’s in My Fly Box Episode 2
Size 16 with 3.0mm Slotted Tungsten Beads
Welcome to the Episode 2 of What’s in My Fly Box! This is a monthly blog where I share one of my confidence flies in my fly box. Not only will I tell you which materials I use, but I will share some of my key tying details about each, along with how I rig and fish each fly.
Before we get started, I would like to say that a majority of my fly fishing is done using a long leader euro rig or a dry dropper rig. I also will use a single dry fly and jig or swing streamers when those opportunities arise.
I truly believe it’s more important to get a good drift at the right depth and speed than to have the perfect fly aka match the hatch.
So, let’s jump in!
Krystal Flash Perdigon
I use these two perdigons a lot in conjunction with my Quill Perdigons from Episode 1. I will either use them as an attractor or by themselves in faster water where trout have less time to react. I believe sometimes the flash will give the trout a little extra time to see these and take them compared to the Quill Perdigons in fast riffles and pocket water.
Like most of my confidence flies, these are simple and deadly.
Tying Materials and Keys to Success
For hooks I personally use straight nymph hooks, mostly Hanak 230 and Dohiku 302. I know most use jig hooks though, so I pictured those. For jigs I tie a lot of custom orders with Hanak 400, Firehole 516, MFC Black Nickel Barbless Jig Hook, and Fasna 444. I use mostly sizes 16 and 18, with an occasional size 20. I feel the size 14 are too long and lose their effectiveness.
When tying with jig hooks I use First Drift Fly Company Tungsten Slotted Beads. When I use straight nymph hooks I use First Drift Fly Company InstaJigs/Offset Beads and First Drift Fly Company Tungsten Countersunk/Round Beads. One of the reasons I prefer straight nymph hooks is because I get the weighting scheme I like using a combination of Round and Instajig Beads.
I make a smooth tapered thread underbody once I capture the tailing fibers. For thread I use either white for the Purple Flash and Olive for the Olive Flash UTC 70 or Semperfli Nano Silk 18/0. These two threads will help you create a smooth underbody to wrap the quill around which is crucial to avoiding excessive resin build up which can hamper the sink rate of your fly. You wan to keep this fly thin.
For the tail I use 3-4 fibets or Coq De Leon CDL. Numerous companies have good synthetic fibets to choose from including, but not limited to Hends, Veniard, MFC, and Textreme. For CDL I use either Spanish Coq De Leon or Hareline’s Coq De Leon. You can use pheasant tail, but I would advise against it. It is bulkier and not as durable as either the fibets or CDL.
The body is Hareline Krystal Flash and like the under thread I tapper this as well. For the Purple Version I use UV Purple and for the Olive Version I use Olive, but the combinations of Krystal Flash Colors and underbody thread are endless. Play around with them and see which work best for you.
For a hot spot on the Olive Version I use Fl Orange/A15 16/0 Veevus Thread. For the Purple Version I use Fl Pink UTC 70. Do not make the hot spot too big. You want it to compliment the fly, not take over the color scheme.
Coat with once or twice with clear resin and use a UV light to cure. I prefer Solarez Bone Dry Ultra Thin or Loon UV Clear Fly Finish Flow. I use mostly Solarez, because I prefer their brush applicator. Loon has both a brush and a narrow applicator you can also use with a bodkin if you prefer that method.
For the black wingcase I use Solarez Bone Dry Ultra Thin Formula Black, but you can use any color. If you want to add a unique wing case to your perdigon I’d suggest the UV Loon Colored Finish. They have a great line up of colors.
How I Rig and Fish
I use perdigons on both euro rigs and dry dropper rigs. For both, I use a tags as these give each fly their own drift. I use a triple surgeon’s knot to create a tag and the tag is typically 4-6” to start with. Any shorter, I feel like I don’t get as many fly changes as I’d like. Any longer and I feel like it tangles too much. I typically fish my two flies 20” apart once you let the tag hang down. If I am fishing deeper water or see fish feeding while suspended, I may increase that distance to get my tag nymph in their feeding lane. I will typically fish my heavier fly on the bottom as I prefer a more vertical presentation, but if I see the trout hugging the bottom or I’m fishing shallow water I will move the heavier fly to the tag. This gives the rig a more horizontal presentation.
I mostly fish them on a dead drift, but sometimes I will jig them when a strong hatch is starting. With how well these flies sink I will change my casting angles as I work top down through the water column. Staring with a fairly horizontal casting angle and gradually getting a steeper entry angle as I want to get deeper.
Give this unsuspecting fly a try and I am sure you will not be disappointed!
One More Cast
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UTC 70 DENIER THREAD
UTC 70 denier is one of the most versatile threads. Every tyer should have this thread as part of their inventory. Tyers can either unwind the floss and make tight smooth bodies or wind it up and get more of a round thread like Uni or Veevus options.
Semperfli Nano Silk 18/0 (30 Denier) 109 yards
Nano Silk is regarded as the tying thread choice of professional fly tyers worldwide. Being so super strong and available in such a variety of colors and Deniers it has endless possibilities and can be used for micro to medium flies. Virtually unbreakable and still capable of being split down for dubbing twists there is no fly tying thread as strong as Nano Silk anywhere.
With Nano Silk you will have confidence that even the smallest of flies can be tied without your thread breaking!
Breaking Strains 1,140gm / 2.51lb strongest in test
Recommended hook size guide #16-#32
Hareline Coq De Leon
Speckled, long and stiff
12 feathers per package
When it comes to fly fishing, presentation is everything. The way your fly lands on the water can make or break your chances of catching a fish. This is where Coq de Leon's natural tailing material comes in. Its natural stiffness and unique texture make it an excellent material for creating flies that perfectly mimic the movements of insects. It also has a unique coloration that can add an element of realism to your flies that's perfect for setting the scene on the river.
These unique feathers have been used for centuries in traditional fly tying, and the material has gained popularity among modern fly fishers for its exceptional quality and versatility. The material is typically used to create things like dry flies and nymphs, and the durability ensures the patterns hold up well even after several uses.
One of the best characteristics of this fly-tying material is the color range. The feathers come in various natural colors, including black, gray, brown, and ginger, making them great for creating realistic patterns that match the color of local insects in your fishing location. The material is also incredibly lightweight, which allows the fly to float on top of the water and mimic the natural movement of insects. This is the ultimate natural tailing material for dry flies. It's speckled, long, and stiff. 12 feathers per pack.
If you're a fly fishing enthusiast looking to create high-quality and effective fly patterns, Coq de Leon is a must-have.
Hareline Krystal Flash is one of the most commonly found fly tying materials across the globe and can be found on thousands of patterns worldwide. Why? Because this material simply works. Whether you are trying to add a little flash to a dubbed pattern, use it for a perdigon body, use as legs, or wings this will become one of your go-to products guaranteed.
16/0 Veevus Thread
Veevus 16/0 Thread from Veevus in Denmark is stronger than many other comparable threads and will not result in excessive build-up. 100 meters per spool.
Troutline Multi LED UV Torch
Troutline Multi Led UV Torch contain 9 led that will provide a larger spot of UV light so necessary in fly tying for making big flies and coating bodies of streamers and saltwater flies like minnow, crabs, shrimps and many other patterns.
The torch work perfectly in the following UV light spectrum 380-425nm and will cure all resins that can be activated with light from in this range.
Technical Details:
Troutline Multi Led UV Torch contain 9 UV led
cure only UV resins that work in 380-425nm light
the light spot is large and well suited for streamers and big flies, but also for small flies like perdigons
the curing time depend of the quality of the batteries ( should be new and fully charged )
takes 3 AAA batteries
the product is delivered without batteries
attention if the torch is dropped or shake the leds can be damaged irreversible.
the guarantee for this lamp is 30 days
Size 16 with 3.0mm Slotted Tungsten Beads
Hanak H 400 BL Jig Hook
The Hanak H400 BL is a great hook. One of the first and still one of the best jig hooks out there. Great for tying perdigons!
straight point
medium wire
25 Hooks per pack
Slotted Tungsten Beads
These are premium Tungsten Slotted Beads with a well sized slot which allows more weight per bead. They fit perfectly over jig hooks, but also can be used with straight shanked hooks. Simply add thread or wire behind the bead to lock it in place and you are ready to go.
Size Hooks:
2.0 18-20
2.3 16-20
2.5 16-18
2.8 14-18
3.0 14-16
3.3 12-16
3.5 10-14
3.8 8-14
4.0 6-12
25 beads per pack
*The above chart is based on a medium wire jig hook. Without a universal hook standard there will be exceptions to the above chart.
Dohiku HDN 302 Nymph/Wet Hook
A good nymph and wet fly hook at a great price. I have never had one bend out and I use these myself on most of my personal straight nymph hook flies. Medium Heavy Wire
Available in 6-20
25 Hooks per pack.
First Drift Fly Company Tungsten Round/Countersunk Beads
These are premium tungsten beads at a great price.
Available in 2.0, 2.5, 3.0, 3.5 and 4.0
25 per bag
Tungsten Insta Jig Beads aka Offset or Inverted Jig Beads
These are premium Insta Jig Beads are great for getting your patterns to depth. They weigh more than Slotted Beads and Countersunk/Round Beads for their size.
25 beads per pack.
Solarez Bone Dry Ultra Thin Formula, .5oz Clear
LOW ODOR, CURES IN SECONDS, GUARANTEED TACK-FREE WHEN CURED WITH OUR SOLAREZ UV LIGHT SYSTEMS!
Cures “Bone Dry” to a clear, hard, glossy finish in under 10 seconds.
No mixing necessary.
No tacky finish that needs to be wiped off with alcohol like other products.
Non-yellowing.
Ultra-low viscosity.
UV-Cure.
Glossy, hard finish.
0.5 Fl. Oz. bottle with applicator brush.
This is a 0.5 oz bottle (14 grams), compare to other products offering 4 grams of actual product.
Usage tip:
Apply in shade. Irradiate with intense UV light for ONE SECOND. Wait 15 seconds. Irradiate again for one second. Wait. Complete with 10 full seconds UV light. This technique will reduce heat & shrinkage.
LOW ODOR, CURES IN SECONDS, GUARANTEED TACK-FREE WHEN CURED WITH OUR SOLAREZ UV LIGHT SYSTEMS!
Cures “Bone Dry” to a deep black, hard, glossy finish in under 10 seconds.
No mixing necessary.
No tacky finish that needs to be wiped off with alcohol like other products.
Rich Black.
Ultra-low viscosity.
UV-Cure.
Glossy, hard finish.
0.5 Fl. Oz. bottle with applicator brush.
This is a 0.5 oz bottle (14 grams), compare to other products offering 4 grams of actual product.
Usage tip:
Apply in shade. Irradiate with intense UV light for ONE SECOND. Wait 15 seconds. Irradiate again for one second. Wait. Complete with 10 full seconds UV light. This technique will reduce heat & shrinkage.
Loon UV Clear Fly Finish - Flow (1/2) oz
UV Flow is the same viscosity as water and locks in threads as a head cement and provides a super-thin coating to heads, bodies or midges.
FEATURES
Size 1/2 oz
New UV Blocking application needles
New Taper-Tip needle prevents clogs
Build fly heads and bodies
Instantly cures with sunlight or UV light
Brush applicator included
Needle tip included for precision tying
Loon UV Colored Fly Finish/Resin
Features
Size: 1/2 oz
Cures with a UV light
Instantly adds color to flies
Perfect for hot spots