Mercer's Micro Mayfly

Materials

How to Tie the Mercer's Micro Mayfly

1. 1

   Step 1

   Slide the gold tungsten bead onto the hook and set the hook in the vise.

2. 2

   Step 2

   Start the brown thread behind the bead and wrap a smooth base back to the bend.

3. 3

   Step 3

   Tie in a small bunch of pheasant tail fibers at the bend for a short tail. Bind the butts down and trim the excess.

4. 4

   Step 4

   Tie in a stripped peacock quill and a length of fine copper or gold wire at the bend, then bring the thread forward.

5. 5

   Step 5

   Wrap the quill forward in touching turns to form a segmented abdomen over the rear of the shank, leaving room for the thorax. Tie it off and trim.

6. 6

   Step 6

   Wrap the wire forward over the quill in open turns as a rib. Tie it off and remove the excess.

7. 7

   Step 7

   Tie in a strand of pearl flash on top of the shank in front of the abdomen, pointing back over the body.

8. 8

   Step 8

   Tie in a bunch of pheasant tail fibers on top of the shank in front of the abdomen, with the tips pointing back, for the wing case and legs.

9. 9

   Step 9

   Dub a small, rounded olive thorax up to the bead.

10. 10

    Step 10

    Pull the pheasant tail fibers forward over the thorax and tie them down just behind the bead, leaving the tips extending past the eye.

11. 11

    Step 11

    Split the tips, fold them back along each side of the thorax and secure them as legs. Trim them to length.

12. 12

    Step 12

    Pull the flash strand forward over the wing case, tie it down behind the bead and trim the excess.

13. 13

    Step 13

    Cover the tie-down wraps with a pinch of dubbing behind the bead, then whip finish and trim the thread.