Daddy Longlegs - Crane Fly

[xrayts 0]

This pattern is called "Daddy Longlegs" and is a Crane Fly imitation. I tied this for the Bluegill Swap Club in September. Breambuster asked that I do a SBS. I got the pattern from "The fly-tying bible : 100 deadly trout and salmon flies in step-by-step photographs" by Peter Gathercole.

#10 2x long 1x fine dry fly hook such as tmc 5212

Tan 70 denier thread

 

Dub from the hook bend forward two thirds. I used Hexagenia color Antron.

 

Put two overhand knots in each of 6 pheasant tail barbs. If you haven't mastered this, watch this video from intheriffle.com. http://www.intheriffle.com/fishing-videos/fly-tying-tips-tricks/making-perfect-hopper-legs/

 

Tie three legs onto each side in front of the dubbing.

 

Trim the tips off of two grizzly hackles to be used as wings.

 

Tie the hackle tips onto the top of the hook where the legs were tied in.

 

Dub forward and leave a little space before the eye.

 

Select a cream hackle of the 1.5 times the hook gap.

 

Tie in the hackle by the stem, palmer forward, tie it off, trim the excess, whip finish, and use a drop of head cement.