Fly Tying Inventory
Funky Flex
Funky Flex is Brandon Mena's quick-sinking jig nymph, meant to suggest a baetis nymph. Many jig hooks stop at size 16, so Mena builds it on Dohiku jig hooks in sizes 18 and 20. He fishes it with European style methods and as a dropper below a hopper, and he also suggests trying a purple version. The fly has a Coq de Leon tail, a UNI Flexx body, a soft hackle and an Ice Dub thorax behind a gold tungsten bead. Tied here on a size 18 hook.
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Materials
Hareline Slotted Tungsten Beads - Classic Colors, gold, 3/32 inch (2.3mm)
Gold · 2.3mm
Whiting Coq de Leon Tailing Pack, medium pardo
Medium Pardo
Nature's Spirit Starling Skin, one feather for the soft hackle (or Whiting 4B Hen Cape, natural dark dun)
Ice Dub, peacock black
Peacock Black
How to Tie the Funky Flex
- 1
Step 1
Slide the gold bead onto the jig hook and mount the hook in the vise.
- 2
Step 2
Start the brown olive thread behind the bead and wrap back to the bend.
- 3
Step 3
Tie in a small bunch of Coq de Leon fibers at the bend for the tail. Bind them down and trim the excess.
- 4
Step 4
Tie in the UNI Flexx at the base of the tail, then bring the thread forward to just behind the bead.
- 5
Step 5
Wrap the UNI Flexx forward in touching turns to form a segmented body, stopping short of the bead to leave room for the hackle and thorax. Tie it off and trim the excess.
- 6
Step 6
Prepare a soft hackle feather, tie it in at the front of the body, and trim the excess.
- 7
Step 7
Grip the stem with hackle pliers and wrap the feather forward to make a sparse soft hackle.
- 8
Step 8
Tie off the feather and trim the stem.
- 9
Step 9
Dub a small pinch of peacock black Ice Dub onto the thread.
- 10
Step 10
Wrap the dubbing between the hackle and the bead to form the thorax, letting the hackle fibers lean back along the body.
- 11
Step 11
Whip finish behind the bead and cut the thread.
Watch Tying Tutorial
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jFyeooRKO2M
Credit: Brandon Mena / Fly Fish Food