Dandy's Tying Bench

Here you will find some of Dandy’s favorite patterns. You will also be able to see why Hatchfinders Fly Shop is so sought after for their brand of flies. Remember, if you have any questions about fly tying just stop on in the shop or give us a call. We’re happy to help!

THE WEEKLY FLY
If you are at all interested in tying flies or learning to tie then this is the website for you. Their videos allow a visual aid, so that you can see for yourselves step by step, the process involved in tying. Many well-known and respected fly-tyers are featured on this website. Dandy is honored to be the first woman featured on The Weekly Fly. Here she ties four of her favorites, The Stalk Body CDC Drake Dun, The CDC Spent Wing Midge, The CDC Spent Wing Caddis, and The Pink Pookie. Enjoy!

Dandy’s Recipe Book

CDC Baetis Quigley
Hook: Dai-Riki #320 sizes 14, 16, 18
Thread: 8/0 Olive
Thorax: Olive-Brown Superfine dubbing
Rib: Very thin gold wire
Tail: CDC fibers in Natural Dun
Hackle: Medium Dun, small
Wing: CDC feathers (2) in Natural Dun
Make a thread base starting ¼’ behind eye to hook point. Tie in CDC fibers to make a fairly full tail. (About 1 side of a feather pulled free from its stem). Tie in gold wire. Make a thread base body, even and smooth. End up you thread to ¼’ behind eye. Wrap 4 times your wire, making sure wraps are even. Tie off. Use a very scant amount of dubbing for the small thorax. The thorax should resemble a ball shape. Tie in 2 CDC feathers, concave sides together in front of thorax. Trim off CDC just behind thorax. Tie feathers into a modified post. Tie hackle in behind the CDC post, concave side of hackle feather facing the tail end of the fly, wrap 3 times, and tie off. Tie off right behind the fly and use a drop of head cement. I like to put a smidgen of Water Shed floatant on the wing.

RS2 (baetis nymph)
Hook: Mustad R50 size 14, 16
Thread: 8/0 Olive
Body: Brown-Olive Superfine dubbing
Tail: Wood duck feather and some strands of Z-Lon in Olive-Brown
Wing: fuzz from a turkey feather
Make a thread base starting ¼’ behind eye to hook point. Tie in 4 Wood duck fibbets. Then tie in 4 or 5 strands of Z-Lon. (This gives the tail some delicate texture). Cut off Z-Lon at Wood duck tips being careful not to cut the tips of the feather. Wrap with dubbing to make a thick, smooth body. Wrap to behind the eye. Tie in turkey fuzz ¼’ behind eye. Make the head using a scant amount of dubbing. Barely ¼’ behind eye – toward middle. This should resemble a husk when it gets wet. Tie off behind eye and place a drop of head cement. (When I say Turkey fuzz what I mean is the fuzzy downy part from a Turkey flat feather. It’s known as the poor man’s CDC. But they can certainly be tied with CDC instead if you wish. I just like to tie these in the traditional style).

 

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