How to make a Monster

[Alex C. 0]

Started my next realistic, it's gonna be another spent mayfly, but really big. The body length is 50mm, with the tails it's 100mm. Wing span is gonna be 100mm

The head alone will be 5mm long!! I figure it will be a good opportunity to practice legs and antanae

[CapeBSalar 0]

Wow, sounds damn exciting, can't wait to see this BIG fly!!

U should post step by steps as you make progress on it!!

 

[harleyhunter 0]

Sounds great olb. Can't wait to see it.

 

Sam

[Alex C. 0]

QUOTE

U should post step by steps as you make progress on it!!

 

I could do that. Got about 3 or 4 hours just forming the abdomen

[Alex C. 0]

Here is the extended abdomen formed and tied onto the hook shank. The body is easily , yet time consumingly formed like this. The hook I'm using is a Mustad 37160, size 6. You can kind of see where the segments are going to be. I've noticed looking at pictures that real mayflys segmentation is hardly ever nice and even along the length of the abdomen. On most Mayflys I've studied pics of, the rear segment(#9) is usally really short, then #8 is a little longer, then #7 thru #5 are a little longer than they are shorter as you near the thorax.

[Alex C. 0]

Now I've built up the thorax and made the foundation for the head. You'll want to cut small strips to length and tie them in on top of the thorax so that when you buiild it up you will have all of the bulk on the top of the thoax instead of the bulk being the same as the bottom. After taking this pic I added one more strip of 50# and although it isn't as tall as it should be proportionaly, I will stop building the thorax up for now since I'm gonna get some more bulk when tying in the legs and wings

[CapeBSalar 0]

looking good so far!!!! Keep it up!

[uffepuffe 0]

Looking good OLB! Keep up that patience and that will be a great fly!

/Uffe

[Graham 0]

Hi OLB,

 

Your fly is shaping up real nice, keep up the good work.

 

Graham

[Alex C. 0]

Okay now I tied in the tails, applied a little flexament to the wraps at the tails and cut the thread.

 

I cut the thread because I am gonna switch to a smaller diameter thread to tie in the body parts, etc.

 

Next I do my best to realisticly color it. Then coat the entire body with flexament

 

 

I have the antennae, and eyes tied in now, but will post the next pic after I tie the legs in

[Graham 0]

Hey Buddy, Your fly is looking great. You sure it needs a layer of flexament?

 

Graham

[GlobalFisher 0]

Looking great man, going to be a nice finished product!

[Alex C. 0]

QUOTE

You sure it needs a layer of flexament?

 

I figured it couldn't hurt, strengthens everything and makes the colors "pop" a little more. I could probably use sally hansen's instead

[Alex C. 0]

 

The main wings are now tied in. The legs are in but need to be tweaked a little, the antennae are tied in and I'm not sure if they were worth all the trouble though. Almost finished

[Alex C. 0]

Tying the wings in is tricky for me but they cme out good. Heres a pic where you can see the wraps pretty good