Flashback Callibaetis
This mayfly nymph pattern uses marabou barbs for its body which give it a very buggy look with a lot of motion while the Flashabou shellback/wing case add a lot of flash to the fly.
- Submitted By: Fly Tying Guide
Materials
1
Place the hook in the vise and secure the thread near the tailing point, leave a 6 inch tag of thread which will be used for the body.
2
Tie in 4 to 6 pheasant tail fibers to form a tail one hook gap in length. Cover the butt ends for about half the length of the hook shank and snip off. Return the thread to the tailing point.
3
Tie in a piece of copper wire for the ribbing. Cover the butt ends for about half the length of the hook shank and remove excess. Return the thread to the tailing point.
4
Tie in 6 to 8 pearl flashabou strands to be used as the shellback and wing case. Cover the butt ends for about half the length of the hook shank and remove excess. Return the thread to the tailing point.
5
Tie in 5 to 6 marabou barbs by their tips, form a slightly tapered body ending the thread slightly past the middle of the hook shank.
6
Twist the marabou barbs and thread tag end into a rope to use for the body.
7
Form a body with the marabou rope ending slightly past the midpoint of the hook shank. Secure and snip off any excess.
8
Pull the Flashabou forward and secure with thread wraps to form the shellback, take one to two wraps in front of the Flashabou to lock it in place. Keep the excess to be used for the wing case.
9
Wrap the copper wire forward in evenly spaced wraps to form the ribbing, secure the wire directly in front of the Flashabou and remove any excess.
10
Fold back the Flashabou and take 2-3 wraps directly on the fold to lock it in place.
11
Prepare a CDC feather for the legs by stroking back the barbs and exposing a small section of the step. Catch in the stem and remove any excess, cover the butt with thread.
12
Apply olive dubbing to the thread and form a small thorax which is slightly larger in diameter than the body.
13
Fold the CDC forward and secure the stem behind the eye. Remove any excess stem but leave the barbs forming the legs long so they can be trimmed as a finishing step for the fly.
14
Pull the Flashabou forward and secure directly behind the hook eye to form the wing case.
15
Cover the tag ends of the Flashabou while forming a neat head for the fly.
16
Whip finish and apply head cement. Trim the CDC barbs for the legs to the be about one hook gap in length.