Fly Tying Inventory
Flexi Floss Blood Worm
A soft, wriggling imitation of the bloodworm, the bright red larva of the chironomid midge that lives in the silt of lakes and is on the trout's menu all year. Davie McPhail's version pairs a short red marabou tail and underbody with a body of red stretch floss, which stays slim, segmented and translucent. It earns its keep in winter and early spring, fished very slowly near the bottom or suspended under an indicator.
🪶 Ready to tie this?
This pattern needs 6 materials. Sign up free to check which ones you already own.
Materials
Kamasan B110 grubber hook, size 10
10
Red marabou, a short wisp
Red
Underbody of red marabou fibres
Red
Uni-Flex stretch floss (flexi floss), red
Red
Clear head varnish
How to Tie the Flexi Floss Blood Worm
- 1
Step 1
Set the grubber hook in the vise and lay a fire orange thread base from behind the eye well round into the curve of the bend.
- 2
Step 2
Tie in a short wisp of red marabou at the rear as the tail; keep it brief so it pulses rather than wraps around the hook.
- 3
Step 3
Use a few more red marabou fibres to form a soft, slim underbody along the shank, binding them down and returning the thread to the rear of the body.
- 4
Step 4
Tie in a length of red stretch floss at the back of the body.
- 5
Step 5
Wind the floss forward in close turns over the marabou to just behind the eye, adjusting the tension so the body is thin at the tail and swells slightly towards the head, which gives a natural segmented look.
Stretching the floss hard makes it thin and see-through; easing off makes it fatter and more opaque.
- 6
Step 6
Tie off the floss and trim it, then form a small neat head with the thread.
- 7
Step 7
Whip finish and give the thread head a coat of varnish.
Watch Tying Tutorial
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7N2axiotvwQ
Credit: Davie McPhail