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| Fly recipe Hook: Egg Hook (Dai Riki #155) Size # 6-10 Thread: Pink, or White Flat Waxed Nylon or Flymaster Plus Body: McFlyfoam in Any Color & Deep Red for Yolk Tying instructions: Step 1: Secure your hook in the vise and attach the thread to the front half of the hook. Don't crowd the eye, as you are going to want room for the materials to form the egg. Your tie ins will be in the middle of the hook. Step 2: McFlyfoam comes in small packages and is made up of many individual strands. These strands also are clumped into larger strands that are roughly a ¼" in width and are quite long. Depending on what size egg you would like to tie and how bushy you would like it to be, select 1 or 2 of these ¼" strands of the egg color. Now also select one 1/16" strip of the deep red for the yolk. Step 3: Once you have selected 1 or 2 of these strands and separated them from the rest of the pack, you want to cut off two 1 ½" long chunks of the egg colored McFlyfoam and one 1 ½" long chunk of the deep red. *****Warning: Your First Few Eggs Will Look Terrible….Don't Despair, They Will Get Better******* Step 4: Take the first chunk of egg colored McFlyfoam and fold it in half against your thread. Grasp the piece such that you have it pinned against your thread and now slide that up and against the bottom of the hook shank. Secure this piece against the bottom of the hook by wrapping around both sides of the strand of the McFlyfoam such that when you pull down on the material it doesn't slide the thread out and away from the hook. This will form the bottom of the fly. Step 5: Now, take the second strand of egg colored McFlyfoam and place the small strand of red yolk in the middle of it. This is going to form the top of the fly. Step 6: Take this chunk of McFlyfoam and with the red yolk side facing you, place this behind the thread, and pull it towards you against the thread such that when you fold it, the red yolk is trapped in the middle of your egg color. The fold should be such that both of the ends are folded against one another close to evenly. Step 7: Pull this folded section down onto the top of the hook and secure by wrapping around both sides of the McFlyfoam chunk, you should again check to ensure that it doesn't come loose when pulling on it. Step 8: Now you should whip finish the fly, preferably not too close to the eye so that the thread is hidden underneath the egg. You can apply a drop of head cement for durability, but do not use zap a gap or jet glue type adhesives as they will destroy the neutral buoyancy and sponginess of the McFlyfoam. ********************Make Sure You Have Good Scissors for the Last Steps*************************** Step 11: Now grab the bottom strand of McFlyfoam and pull it taught so that the material is stretching. Now cut off all but ¼" of the material. This should leave you with a puff ball on the bottom. Step 12: Repeat the process for the top. Leaving you with 2 nicely formed halves, that when you move the materials around a little bit will cover the shank and thread and leave you with a nicely formed egg like pictured above. Notes: Always controversial with some folks, but undeniably effective, the egg is a staple in my box from November through March when their isn't as much aquatic insect activity. Some guys swear by midges, I go with the ol' steak and eggs. A san juan worm fished in front with an egg trailer has caught more fish over the years during the winter for me than any other one combo. Most trout eggs are tied in pinks, oranges, and chartreuse. I don't know the exact science behind it, but I have always found that lighter pinks and softer colors work better earlier and the oranges and chartreuses and brighter pinks work better in the later season. |
