
McPhail's Dynamite Harry
Davie McPhail's durable dry fly pattern designed for extended fishing sessions. Uses Tiemco Aero Dry Wing material for both the wing post and body, Coq de Leon tailing, squirrel dubbing thorax, and grizzle cock saddle hackle on a wide-gape Czech Nymph/Emerger hook. Produces excellent hook-up rates and survives multiple fish.
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Materials
Fulling Mill Czech Nymph/Emerger or similar wide-gape hook, sizes 14-18
Uni 8/0, Olive Dun or Yellow (color to match variant)
Coq de Leon fibers, Light or Medium Pardo
Tiemco Aero Dry Wing, Golden Olive (or color to match variant)
Tiemco Aero Dry Wing, Golden Olive (same material as body)
Squirrel dubbing, dyed yellow/olive or natural
Grizzle cock saddle hackle, dyed golden straw or natural
How to Tie the McPhail's Dynamite Harry
- 1
Step 1
Secure a wide-gape dry fly hook in the vise. Start the thread and wind a base to the bend.
- 2
Step 2
Select a small clump of Coq de Leon fibers and tie in at the bend as the tail, about body length.
- 3
Step 3
Dub or wrap thread forward to form a slightly tapered body, stopping about one-third back from the eye.
A sparse dressing floats better and looks more lifelike.
- 4
Step 4
Tie in a small tuft of poly yarn or McFlylon upright on top of the shank to form the wing post.
- 5
Step 5
Prepare and tie in a high-quality dry fly hackle at the base of the post, with the shiny side facing you.
- 6
Step 6
Palmer the hackle around the post in parachute style for 4-5 turns. Tie off and trim excess.
- 7
Step 7
Apply a bit more dubbing if needed around the tie-in points to form a neat thorax.
- 8
Step 8
Build a small head, whip finish, and add a drop of head cement. Trim wing post to desired length.
Watch Tying Tutorial
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eVZiCTzhQaI
Credit: Davie McPhail