Fly Tying Inventory
Traffic Light Snatcher
Snatchers are slim, lightly hackled midge patterns on curved grub hooks, a loch-style cross between a buzzer and a traditional wet fly. This one, tied by Martyn White, earns its name from a pearl-over-red tinsel body, black hen hackle and hot orange jungle cock cheeks. It sinks slowly, so it stays high in the water; fish two on droppers with a Muddler on the point when trout are feeding in the top few inches.
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Materials
Fulling Mill Super Grub hook, sizes 10-16
10-16
Red holographic tinsel underbody
Red
Pearl tinsel wound over the red holographic tinsel
Pearl
Wire, black, small
Black · Small
Black hen hackle
Black
Cheeks: jungle cock eyes dyed hot orange, one per side
Hot orange
Fulling Mill Tactical Lash Dub, black bronze peacock
Black bronze peacock
How to Tie the Traffic Light Snatcher
- 1
Step 1
Mount the grub hook and run the black thread from just behind the eye partway round the bend, keeping the base flat.
- 2
Step 2
Tie in the small black wire at the rear of the body, followed by the red holographic tinsel.
- 3
Step 3
Wind the red holographic tinsel forward in flat touching turns to form the underbody, stopping a short way behind the eye, and tie it off.
- 4
Step 4
Tie in the pearl tinsel at the rear and wind it forward over the red so the red glows through the pearl. Secure it at the front of the body and trim.
Keep both tinsel layers thin; a Snatcher should stay slim like a buzzer.
- 5
Step 5
Rib the body with the black wire in evenly spaced open turns to suggest segments, then tie off and break the wire away.
- 6
Step 6
Tie in a black hen hackle by its tip at the front of the body and wind two or three turns as a short, soft collar. Secure it and trim the waste.
- 7
Step 7
Set a hot orange jungle cock eye along each side of the fly, lying low over the front of the body, and tie them down firmly.
- 8
Step 8
Dub a small pinch of black bronze peacock Lash Dub onto the thread and wrap a neat head ahead of the hackle and cheeks. Whip finish and varnish.
Watch Tying Tutorial
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AgnfJ2oyEQE
Credit: Martyn White