Murray's Hellgrammite
Tied by Robert Ott for our first ever fly swap.
Robert's Notes and Instructions:
History & Acknowledgements
MATERIAL & TYING INSTRUCTIONS
HOOK: Mustad 9672 or Tiemco 5262 Size 4-10
THREAD: Black 3/0 Prewaxed Monocord
WEIGHT: Lead Wire
BODY: Black Chenille
EXTENDED BODY: Black Ostrich Herl
RIBBING: Soft Dark Blue Dun Rooster Saddle Hackle
PINCHERS: Black Rubber
Cover the entire hook shank with tying thread. Cover the middle three-fourths of the hook shank with adjacent wraps of lead wire about the diameter of the hook wire.
Select strong ostrich herls with very thick hair-like side filaments for the extended rear body (about fifteen to twenty is right for a size 6 hook). Holding the clump together, break off the weak tips by twisting them between your thumbnail and index finger.
Tie the ostrich herl in just over the hook bend so the tips extend beyond the bend about twice the length of the hook shank. Tie the butts down along the top of the hook shank for two-thirds of its length to form a smooth underbody. Trim off excess butts and apply cement.
Tie in a soft webby dark blue dun rooster saddle hackle over the bend by the tip. Tie in a piece of black chenille immediately over this (The chenille must be in proportion to the hook size, but should be rather fat).
Advance the thread to the hook eye and apply enough wraps here to cover the the sharp edges of the eye and to form a flat foundation for the the rubber pincers. About one-eigth inch behind the eye, tie in a folded two-inch piece of line with the hook shank and spread apart at a 90-degree angle to each other. Hold both strands of rubber together and cut them even about three-quarters of an inch forward of the eye.
Wind the chenille forward, and tie off about one-quarter of an inch behind the eye. Cut off excess chenille. Wind the hackle forward with neatly spaced wraps and tie off in front of the chenille (Use about 6 wraps on a size 6 Hellgrammite).