Fly of the Month Bob Ireton brings together his experience in fly fishing, aquatic entomology, and knowledge of fly tying techniques and materials, to design and tie durable and effective flies.

   Volume 6,  Issue 9                                                              September   2005

BRASSIE

Fly, Text, and Photography by Bob Ireton

This pattern, variously described as having been developed in Colorado, or the Southwest, is designed to imitate a western caddis larva that make their cases from reddish sand, or sand with mica and minerals in it. Here in our area of the Midwest, the caddis larva makes their cases from lighter colored materials. This pattern has a body made from copper wire, which is heavy enough to be all the weight the fly needs to get down deep where the fish are.

MATERIALS

Hook – Mustad AC3906B, or equivalent hook that is approximately 1XL and 1XH.
Size – 10-20.
Thread – Black, 6/0 or 8/0.
Body – Copper wire approximately the diameter of the hook wire.
Head – Peacock herl.

 TYING STEPS -  click on pictures for larger view

1 – For this fly, I am using a Mustad AC3906B, size 14. This hook has a larger barb than I would care to fish with. Although I did not mash the barb down for the pictures, I would do so before I fished with this hook. Now place the hook properly in the vise, and attach the working thread behind the eye. Lay on a good base, ending above the barb. Tie a half hitch.
2 – Using a pair of flat jaw pliers, flatten a portion of the end of the copper wire prior to attaching it to the hook shank. This will let the wraps of the wire lay smoother. Don’t mash too flat, or the wire might break off when wrapped.
3 – Lay the flattened end of the copper wire on the hook shank, and tie in securely. Bring the thread forward, and tie a half hitch.
4 – Wrap the copper wire forward, keeping the wraps touching each other. Cut off the unused wire, but leave enough that you can flatten the tag end. This will give a smoother look to the fly. Now tie down the wire, and tie a half hitch.
5 – Select a couple of nice strands of peacock herl. Tie them in adjacent to the copper wire, then tie a half hitch.
6 – Palmer the herl forward, one strand at a time. Tie in securely, and snip off the unused peacock herl. Form a nice head with the working thread. Tie a couple of half hitches, then a whip finish. Snip off the thread, and apply some head cement to the head.

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