Fly Tying Inventory
Blinking Blob
Cheech came across the idea for the Blinking Blob while stripping a blob on a parabolic fly line on a lake with plenty of willing rainbows. The fly showed one solid color on the strip, then a second color came through on the pause, as if it blinked with each pull. A dark layer over a lighter one creates the effect. Here, long black cactus chenille sits in front of shorter fluorescent chartreuse chenille, with a white marabou tail at the rear. Fish it on a strip and pause retrieve. Tied here on a size 12 hook.
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Materials
Fulling Mill FM5005 Heavyweight Champ Barbless, size 12 (or Fulling Mill 5027 Grab Gape Heavy, black nickel)
12
UTC Ultrathread 140 Denier, fl. chartreuse (or Danville 140 Denier Waxed Flymaster Plus, fl. green)
Fl. Chartreuse · 140 denier
Fulling Mill Premium Marabou Blood Quills, fl. white (or Fish Hunter Premium Strung Marabou, fl. white UV)
Fl. White
Fulling Mill Translucent Cactus Chenille, 10mm, fl. chartreuse, for the rear of the body (or fl. yellow)
Fl. Chartreuse · 10mm
Fulling Mill Translucent Cactus Chenille, 15mm, black, for the front of the body (or brown)
Black · 15mm
How to Tie the Blinking Blob
- 1
Step 1
Start the thread behind the eye and wrap back to the bend.
- 2
Step 2
Pull a small bunch of fl. white marabou from the feather and tie it in at the bend for a short tail. Bind the butts and trim any excess.
- 3
Step 3
Tie in the 10mm chartreuse chenille at the base of the tail.
- 4
Step 4
Wrap the chartreuse chenille forward over the rear part of the shank only. Tie it off and trim the excess, leaving the front of the shank bare.
- 5
Step 5
Tie in the 15mm black chenille directly in front of the chartreuse section.
- 6
Step 6
Wrap the black chenille forward to just behind the eye, then tie it off and trim the excess.
The longer black fibers need to reach back over the chartreuse. That covering of dark over light is what makes the fly seem to blink on the strip and pause.
- 7
Step 7
Whip finish behind the eye, leaving a small chartreuse thread head, and cut the thread.
Watch Tying Tutorial
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lBMzsfVEtQ4
Credit: Cheech / Fly Fish Food