Giant Stonefly or Salmonfly

Dry Fly

Tied By Andrew Marshall

Hook: 3x long, Nos. 2-6

Thread: Black

Materials-

tail: horse hair

body: various coloured wools

rib: black silk thread

underwing: two large goose CDC feathers

overwing: grey mallard or lemon wood duck flank, prepared as per comments below

eyes: 30lb monofilament line melted to shape

legs: horse hair

antenna: horse hair

Notes:

For the over-wing, take a grey mallard or a lemon wood duck flank feather and holding it by the tips, pull the barbs forward towards the base, coating them with a UV cement and holding them in place to set them. A strand of scarlet floss is used to tie down the wing over the thorax.

Instructions: A lump is created, of yellowy-orange wool, at the tail in order to separate the two horsehairs that are the tails.
Tie in the heavy black silk thread for the rib.
Three strands of grey wool are tied in, pulled back and then the body, of the orangey-yellow wool is tied in and wrapped forward. Pull the grey wool forward along the sides and back, leaving the belly exposed, and tie down, rib with silk and tie off. Tie in the two large CDC feathers that represent the hindwings.
Tie in the orangey-yellow wool strand for the underside of the thorax.
Tie in the first set of horse hairs for the legs.
The thorax is divided into two parts, representing each set of legs, the rear two pairs and the front pair. After each set of legs is tied in, dub the body with grey wool. Do the first two pairs then pull the orangey-yellow wool strand forward and tie down, but do not trim. Tie in the scarlet floss strand, then holding the prepared flank feather appropriately, use it to secure the wing into place snugly.
Do the third pair of legs and repeat with the wools and not trimming. Tie in the eyes, dub and pull forward the belly wool strand and the wing, tie down and trim the waste. Tie in the antennae and tie off. The use of the CDC is both to aid in floatation, but also to give movement to the fly that when fished, lies in the surface film with the currents subtly playing on the CDC fibres.

In retrospect, could have been improved with the addition of a few wraps of large CDC feather between the legs to impart more motion and aid floatation.

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