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Current Tags for This Pattern
/ adult stonefly / Caddis / Dubbing / Elk / Foam / stonefly /

Airhead

 
tied by Airhead
Fly Type: Attractor Pattern,
Target Species: Trout,
Recommended Region: Central US,
Imitation: Stone Flies,
Material List: Thread: 6/0 monocord to match body color

Body: Dubbing, your choice, I prefer synthetic

Underwing: Deer/Elk hair

Overwing: Closed cell foam
Tying Instructions: Spin a tight dubbing loop, wrap 3/4 forward.

Tie in underwing, whip finish.

Tie in 6 narrow strips of thin closed cell foam sheet, 3 top, 3 bottom, extending forward.

Bring thread forward just behind hook eye, then back to whip finish point.

Pull foam strips back, keeping centered on top and bottom, wrap thread to form head. Whip finish behind head.

Trim foam strips, 3 on top to hook bend. 1 on bottom trim right off. 2 on bottom/sides to hook point.
Presentation Tips: This is a very powerful attractor, many times too powerful.

It can be fished dry, dead drift, skated or swung.

It can be fished wet on the swing with a sinking line or weighted leader, or fished as a streamer.

It can be fished dry and wet in the same cast, planing under as drag pulls it out and retreived upstream, then dry again without false casting!