Glo-bug made easy

[Zen Piscator]

I used to hate tying glo bugs, all that trimming, spinning, then they would fall apar on the river. Anyways, when i was down in Arkansas the fishing teams coach showed me a much faster, easier way to tie a glo bug, or glo bug like pattern.

Here ya go

Step one, tie in thread, and cover only a tiny portion in the middle of the shank
http://www.washingtonflyfishing.com/gallery/data/508/egg1.jpg

Tie in 1 to 4 clumps of egg yarn, depending upon the size of fly and density you want to end up with. For a size 8 hook i use 2 clumps. Once you have cliped two two-inch lenghts of yarn, combine them into one clump, and secure to the top of the hook with 4 or 5 wraps under tention
http://www.washingtonflyfishing.com/gallery/data/508/egg2.jpg

Gather all the yarn into your forfinger and thumb and pull tight. Take 3 or 4 wraps under the yarn but above the hook, as you would for a parachute post on a dry fly. Make sure the wraps are under tention. After this, whip finish infront of the yarn, and apply some head cement (this fly will really stay together better if you do)
http://www.washingtonflyfishing.com/gallery/data/508/egg3.jpg

Trim the yarn in one cut directly paralell with the hook. Experiment wit the lengh that you want to trim you bug. If you trim to the fly too long it will look very ragged. Usually to get a good looking, well rounded fly, you need to trim the yarn to a lenght that would seem "too short" for the fly you are tying, but in reality that lenght doubles because the fibers flair out on the top and bottom of the hook.
http://www.washingtonflyfishing.com/gallery/data/508/egg4.jpg

With you fingers, gather the fibers, press them towards the center of the hook shank from both back and front, and make sure they are evenly depersed around the enitre hook. The finished fly should look a little like this

http://www.washingtonflyfishing.com/gallery/data/508/egg5.jpg

[MauiJim]

Nice Zen... thanks for the step-by-step tutorial. You must have learned some really cool stuff on your trip!

[Ringlee]

Burning the edges will cut off time too.

[Old Man]

Don't you also add a clump to the bottom of the hook. It looks like if you didn't it would just flair out on the top of the hook. That's the way I did it the first time and I ended up with a half of a glow bug. But I keep trying.

Jim

[Ringlee]

Depending on the size of the hook and the size of the egg you want. You dont want an egg bigger than your hook.

[Old Man]

Well I went and tried to tie one again and it still looked like crap. :( So to save on frayed nerves,I have decided to just go out and buy them. I shake enough now,I don't need to do any extra. bawling:

Jim

[salt dog]

Nice one Zen, thanks for the tip.
I was having the same feeling of frustration tying those sons of a gun as you, to the point where I was disparging the fly itelf and anyone that used it.

[Bob Triggs]

Nice work Zen, I like that, and also the little tube tying methoid, with the hollow tubes that you thread the yarn into. Yours is the down n dirty way and it works fast and clean.

[Zen Piscator]

Bob,
I think the tube method makes a better looking, "fuller" egg, but im way to lazy to work a system like that out, common now:p

[Paul Huffman]

Why the wraps under the yarn like a parachute post?

[Tim Cottage]

For the egg fishers:
Just came across this tutorial for a bouncing double egg pattern.
The rear egg bounces along behind, adding realism and exciting primal instincts beyond all self control.

http://flytyingforum.com/index.php?act=article&article_id=62&category_id=8&article_author=day5

Those who are having trouble with single egg flies might want to proceed slowly.

TC

[Zen Piscator]

Why the wraps under the yarn like a parachute post?

Paul,
This gathers the yarn and causes it not to spin, making it easier to cut and control. Sure they bottom may be a little sparse but in my experince the fish have not seemed to mind.

Peace,
Andy

[jabseattle]

Nice work Zen!! :thumb:

[Bob Triggs]

Im thinking this leaves a little more hook clearance too. :thumb:

[Zen Piscator]

Bob,
You are correct, but in bigger sizes this method does not work as well. For anything bigger than like a 8 or 6, I use the normal method. This method is sweet for trout sized glo-bugs too, because you can tie them very fast and hooking is not as much of an issue.

Peace,
Andy

[Wayne Jordan]

What size thread are you using Zen?
I just tried using ultra fine mono for the first time on my glo bugs and they came out pretty sweet!