Fly Tying Inventory
Complex Twist Sow Bug
Complex Twist Sow Bug is Cheech's jig-hook take on the Ray Charles, with no flashback and red wire twisted into the ostrich herl so the body holds up. It carries an oversized tungsten bead and is meant to be fished close to the bottom, where sow bugs live. They are a plentiful food source in many Utah rivers, and he built this one to be durable, easy and quick to tie, because fishing that deep means losing a few. Tied here on a size 16 hook.
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Materials
Hanak Round+ Slotted Tungsten Beads, silver, 3.5mm
Silver · 3.5mm
Ostrich herl, scud tan (or Nature's Spirit Ostrich Herl Plume, tan)
Scud Tan
UTC Ultra Wire, red, small, twisted up with the herl (or wine)
Red · Small
Ostrich herl, light gray (or Nature's Spirit Ostrich Herl Plume, muskrat gray)
Light Gray
How to Tie the Complex Twist Sow Bug
- 1
Step 1
Slide the silver slotted bead onto the jig hook, seat it at the eye and mount the hook in the vise.
- 2
Step 2
Start the watery olive thread behind the bead and wrap a base back to the bend.
- 3
Step 3
Tie in the scud tan ostrich herl at the bend.
- 4
Step 4
Tie in the red wire at the same spot.
- 5
Step 5
Tie in the light gray ostrich herl beside the other two materials.
- 6
Step 6
Bring the thread forward to just behind the bead and let it hang there.
- 7
Step 7
Gather the tan herl, gray herl and wire together in a dubbing spinner and spin them into a single rope.
Twisting the wire in with the herl is what makes the body tough.
- 8
Step 8
Wrap the rope forward up the shank to the thread so the two herl colors mix along the body and the red wire shows as a broken rib.
- 9
Step 9
Tie off the rope behind the bead and trim the excess herl and wire.
- 10
Step 10
Whip finish behind the bead, leaving a small band of olive thread showing, and trim the thread.
Watch Tying Tutorial
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GS1e6Kjk4YY
Credit: Cheech / Fly Fish Food