Fly Tying Inventory
Bow Tie Buzzer
Bow Tie Buzzer is a variation, tied by Curtis Fry, on a stillwater chironomid pupa from Frank Sawyer, the tyer behind the Pheasant Tail Nymph. It uses the pheasant tail fibers from end to end, as tail, body and wing case, over an opal tinsel underbody with a wire rib. With no bead, it is most useful when trout are feeding near the surface on emerging pupa. Natural pheasant works, and so do melanistic, gray, black or brown dyed fibers. Tied here on a size 12 hook.
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Materials
Umpqua XC290BL-BN Wet Hook, size 12 (or Fulling Mill FM1530 Competition Heavyweight)
12
Nature's Spirit Ringneck Pheasant Center Tails, natural, for the tail, body and wing case (or muskrat gray, or black Ringneck Pheasant Tail)
Natural
Semperfli Tying Wire 0.2mm, copper (or light gold, or UTC Ultra Wire, Brassie, copper)
Copper · 0.2mm
Mirage Tinsel - Opal, large, for the underbody (or Veevus Holographic Tinsel, large, silver)
Opal · Large
Glo-Brite Floss for hot-spots and tags, fl. white no. 16, for the breathers
Fl. White · 16
How to Tie the Bow Tie Buzzer
- 1
Step 1
Mount the hook in the vise, start the thread and wrap a smooth base back to the bend.
- 2
Step 2
Tie in the wire at the bend and let it trail behind the hook.
- 3
Step 3
Pull a bunch of fibers from the pheasant tail feather and keep the tips even.
- 4
Step 4
Tie in the bunch at the bend so the tips form the tail, and fold the rest of the fibers back out of the way for the body.
- 5
Step 5
Tie in the tinsel at the same point and bring the thread forward to the front of the body.
- 6
Step 6
Wrap the tinsel forward as an underbody, tie it off and trim the excess.
- 7
Step 7
Grip the pheasant fibers with hackle pliers and wrap them forward over the tinsel in open turns so bands of tinsel still show. Hold them at the front of the body without cutting them.
- 8
Step 8
Wind the wire forward through the body as a rib, tie it off and trim the excess.
- 9
Step 9
Form the thorax with the pheasant fibers, then fold what is left back over the body, out of the way.
- 10
Step 10
Tie a piece of white floss across the shank just behind the eye so a tuft stands out on each side, like a bow tie.
- 11
Step 11
Trim the floss on both sides to length.
- 12
Step 12
Bring the fibers forward over the top as a wing case, tie them down behind the eye and trim the excess.
- 13
Step 13
Wrap a neat thread head, whip finish and cut the thread.
Watch Tying Tutorial
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gXn42W0DJKs
Credit: Curtis Fry / Fly Fish Food