Local Fuzzball

Local Fuzzball

Dry Fly
Midge
Beginner
Rainbow Trout
Brown Trout
Cutthroat Trout
Hook: 16

Local Fuzzball is Cheech's pared-down version of a gray-bodied fuzzball he learned with both grizzly and brown hackle palmered through it. This one keeps a single brown hackle over squirrel dubbing, and it belongs to the same family as a Griffith's Gnat. Some anglers fish it as a midge, some as a larger attractor, and some retrieve it under the surface. A fox-colored body is an easy swap. Tied here on a size 16 hook.

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Materials

Hook

Fulling Mill FM1310 Down Eye Dry hook, size 16 (or TMC 100 Dry Fly Hook)

16

Thread

Semperfli Classic Waxed Thread 12/0, black (or dark mocha brown)

Black · 12/0

Hackle

Yard Bird Midge Dry Fly Saddle, brown

Brown

Body

Hareline Squirrel Hair Dubbing, gray (or red fox, or SLF Spikey Squirrel Dubbing in natural gray or natural fox)

Gray

How to Tie the Local Fuzzball

  1. 1

    Step 1

    Mount the hook and start the black thread behind the eye. Wrap a thread base back to the bend.

  2. 2

    Step 2

    Tie in the brown hackle feather by its stem at the bend, with the feather trailing behind the hook. Bind the stem down along the shank.

  3. 3

    Step 3

    Apply the gray squirrel dubbing to the thread in a loose, scruffy noodle.

  4. 4

    Step 4

    Wrap the dubbing forward to just behind the eye to form a fuzzy body, leaving a little room to tie off the hackle.

  5. 5

    Step 5

    Palmer the hackle forward through the body in open, evenly spaced turns.

  6. 6

    Step 6

    Tie off the feather behind the eye and trim the excess.

  7. 7

    Step 7

    Whip finish behind the eye and cut the thread.

Watch Tying Tutorial

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3vlj7QaBRh0

Credit: Cheech / Fly Fish Food

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