Steve Hudson
Senior Member
Last week, The Tying Bench went "live" at the Atlanta Flyfishing Show, where we shared part one of a two part series on tying the FS-22 (as in "Flyfishing Show '22," named in honor of the show) foam-bodied topwater bug for bass and saltwater fly fishing.
What we did last week: In part one, we focused on the "turned-foam" approach to making suitable fly bodies. This week, we finish up the FS-22 series with part two, wherein we'll turn those bodies into finished flies.
At the heart of this fly is that custom shaped foam body (FS could also stand for "Flexible Shape"). In our first session last weekend, we focused on how to make the bodies using an improvised lathe fashioned from a power drill, a finishing nail, and some coarse sandpaper. It's a version of what's often called the "Dremel Bug" technique, and it allows tyers to easily shape bug bodies in almost any profile desired.
The "homework" for that first session was to make a batch of bug bodies. We'll use those bodies this Saturday to make a batch of finished bass bugs!
AN IMORTANT NOTE (and a video!): If you missed last week, don't despair! You can quickly learn how to make some bodies of your own with our brand-new You Tube video (yes, a video!) which you'll find here:
You can copy the link and paste it into your browser to access the video. The video shows you how to make the bodies, and I hope you'll enjoy the process!
If you don't want to make your own bodies, you'll find a good selection of commercially made foam popper bodies available in most fly shops. You're welcome to use those this Saturday! Choose bodies suitable for whatever size hooks you'll be using.
What we'll do this week:
With those newly made (or freshly purchased) bodies in hand, we will focus this Saturday on mounting bodies onto hooks and then creating finished bugs.
In addition to bodies of some sort, here's what you'll need this Saturday in the way of materials:
HOOK: Size 1/0, 1, 2 or 4 straight-shank hook. Regular, 1XL or 2XL shank. We won't need kinked-shank hooks.
THREAD: Large thread! At least 3/0. Color doesn't matter much on these flies!
ADHESIVE: Zap-A-Gap. Five-minute epoxy is an alternative.
TAIL: Marabou, bucktail, strung hackle feathers, etc. -- your choice!
HACKLE: Strung hackle, schlappen, or hackle yarn -- and color is up to you!
EYES: Dots from a round-tip Sharpie. This is a SIMPLE way to add eyes and is what I usually do.
Alternately, use a stick-on eye (in which case you'll probably want to paint the body with a clear overcoat as discussed in class) or use a drop of dimensional fabric paint (but if you do, you'll have to let the paint dry).
OPTIONAL: For a shiny finish on your bug bodies, try Ceramcoat Clear Water-based Urethane Varnish. It's available from many big-box craft supply stores. We'll talk about that in our workshop Saturday.
Zoom Login
Tying the FS-22 Foam-Body Bass Bug, Part 2
Saturday, Feb. 12, at 10 a.m. Eastern
Meeting ID: 835 2586 9911
Passcode: FlyTying12 [case sensitive]
What we did last week: In part one, we focused on the "turned-foam" approach to making suitable fly bodies. This week, we finish up the FS-22 series with part two, wherein we'll turn those bodies into finished flies.
At the heart of this fly is that custom shaped foam body (FS could also stand for "Flexible Shape"). In our first session last weekend, we focused on how to make the bodies using an improvised lathe fashioned from a power drill, a finishing nail, and some coarse sandpaper. It's a version of what's often called the "Dremel Bug" technique, and it allows tyers to easily shape bug bodies in almost any profile desired.
The "homework" for that first session was to make a batch of bug bodies. We'll use those bodies this Saturday to make a batch of finished bass bugs!
AN IMORTANT NOTE (and a video!): If you missed last week, don't despair! You can quickly learn how to make some bodies of your own with our brand-new You Tube video (yes, a video!) which you'll find here:
You can copy the link and paste it into your browser to access the video. The video shows you how to make the bodies, and I hope you'll enjoy the process!
If you don't want to make your own bodies, you'll find a good selection of commercially made foam popper bodies available in most fly shops. You're welcome to use those this Saturday! Choose bodies suitable for whatever size hooks you'll be using.
What we'll do this week:
With those newly made (or freshly purchased) bodies in hand, we will focus this Saturday on mounting bodies onto hooks and then creating finished bugs.
In addition to bodies of some sort, here's what you'll need this Saturday in the way of materials:
HOOK: Size 1/0, 1, 2 or 4 straight-shank hook. Regular, 1XL or 2XL shank. We won't need kinked-shank hooks.
THREAD: Large thread! At least 3/0. Color doesn't matter much on these flies!
ADHESIVE: Zap-A-Gap. Five-minute epoxy is an alternative.
TAIL: Marabou, bucktail, strung hackle feathers, etc. -- your choice!
HACKLE: Strung hackle, schlappen, or hackle yarn -- and color is up to you!
EYES: Dots from a round-tip Sharpie. This is a SIMPLE way to add eyes and is what I usually do.
Alternately, use a stick-on eye (in which case you'll probably want to paint the body with a clear overcoat as discussed in class) or use a drop of dimensional fabric paint (but if you do, you'll have to let the paint dry).
OPTIONAL: For a shiny finish on your bug bodies, try Ceramcoat Clear Water-based Urethane Varnish. It's available from many big-box craft supply stores. We'll talk about that in our workshop Saturday.
Zoom Login
Tying the FS-22 Foam-Body Bass Bug, Part 2
Saturday, Feb. 12, at 10 a.m. Eastern
Meeting ID: 835 2586 9911
Passcode: FlyTying12 [case sensitive]
