Pond Bugs

[dick tabbert]

Got a pond full of these + giant water beetles. If someone knows what these bugs are I would appreciate it so I can make a fly to try and match the hatch.I have a pond full of these.

I knew I had bugs but not so many. Plus 1000's of bullfrog tad poles.

[Allen Morgan]

Here's a bunch of them:

[dick tabbert]

I like them do you mind if later I try to make a few.

[Allen Morgan]

Go for it!

I do the tail "off the hook", by inserting a needle into my vise.  I tie a marabou feather onto the needle about half an inch from the tip, then do a spiral wrap to almost the tip, wrap around the feather shaft/needle a couple times, then do a spiral wrap back to the tie-in point.  Secure the thread with a few half-hitches.  You need to do this carefully, by hand, as you're going to feed the length of the marabou feather through the loop.

Once that's done, remove the feather from the needle, being careful not to loose the wraps.

Put a hook in the vise.  I use a size 8 wet fly hook.  Start the thread, then tie in the bead chain eyes.  Advance the thread to the bend, then tie in the feather.  Return the thread to just behind the eyes.  Grasp the feather, and twist it into a "rope".  Wrap the marabou rope around the hook until you reach the eyes, then tie it off.  The wing case and legs are done like you would a Pheasant Tail nymph.

If you find a picture of a Damselfly nymph, this fly is a very close imitation!

I don't add any extra weight to these, as I typically fish still water.  However, if you are fishing a creek with current, you might want to either use lead or brass dumbbell eyes, or wrap a little lead wire around the hook after the eyes.

[dick tabbert]

Allen I made something along that line in Feb 24-13. Didn't know what to call it so I called it a thingamabob. Have a picture of it in my photo's. Don't know how to get it out and reinsert in this discussion but I did save in my photo's. Don't look near as good as yours I think I will attempt one of yours down the road. I remember the thingamabob took me a long time I had a hard time getting in there with my big fingers. Made 3 gave 2 away still have 1 in my box.

[DAVID L EITUTIS]

HEY MASTER ALLEN " GREAT LOOKING FLYS MAN !!!!!! 

[Ray Ditzenberger]

nice ties.

[dick tabbert]

Thanks Ray means a lot. The fly came out better than I had expected.

[Nathan]

Definitely not a mayfly, either dragonfly, damsel fly or possibly a water boatman?

[Vince Fusco]

What a great looking bug you tied, Dick.  Those big gills should smash that one. Congrats on matching the hatch!!!

[dick tabbert]

Thanks Vince I feel like it's a fairly close match I'm sure there are better one's out there but considering this is my 1st one I thought it came out better than expected for me anyway. I'll be updating shortly I made a few more. Again thanks Vince.

[dick tabbert]

This is the final product in which I tied 6 Dragonfly nymphs. There was some improvements made hope for the best the biggest being not as much lead as the 1st one. Took 2 days I never said I was fast and I really have a hard time with small stuff eyes ain't what they use to be along with these big fingers it was a bit of a challenge..

[DAVID L EITUTIS]

GREAT LOOKING DICK AND WISH I HAD SOME FOR NEXT SPRING!!!!!!