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Current Tags for This Pattern
/
deer hair /
Dubbing /
The Animal V.
tied by Old HatFly Type: Dry,
Target Species: Trout,
Recommended Region: Northwest US,
Imitation: Mayflies,
Material List: Hook: 2x long dry fly
Thread: preference
Tail:
Deer hair tips
Body: dry fly
Dubbing of choice
Hackle: dry fly
Hackle about 1.5 times hook gap
Wing: ends of
Deer hair use for the tail (fanned)
Tying Instructions: This is a variation The Animal. It has produced well as a fast water dry and has a nice mayfly profile. Also, I have used it as a fluttering caddis pattern. A search of the SBS for The Animal by Terje (dry fly purist) will give you a step by step. The only change I have made is to leave the butt ends of the hair long and trim to 1.5 times the hook gap. I also do not trim the top fibers of hackle.
Cut and stack a clump of deer hair. Tie the tips in for the tail. Tie down the clump along the shank till you reach the quarter mark on the shank from the eye. Tie in your hackle at the front. Dub back to the base of the tail. Wind your hackle rearward. Tie the hackle down with your thread at the base of the tail then proceed to wrap forward through the hackle to the hook shank in front of the hair butts. Trim the hair butts to 1.5 times the hook gap. Pull the butts back and wedge them up with your thread. cover the head with a little dubbing and whip finish. Trim the bottom hackles and any unruly hair along the bottom. Fan the wing out similar to tying a comparadun.
Presentation Tips: Dry Fly techniques. For a fluttering caddis, short line cast it, let it float momentarily, pick it up, then set it down. Continue picking it up and setting it down lightly.
