Woven Stonefly

Materials

How to Tie the Woven Stonefly

1. 1

   Step 1

   Wrap a section of lead wire around the middle of the bare shank.

   For extra weight, slide the optional beads onto the shank before the lead. They stay hidden under the body and are not a head bead.

2. 2

   Step 2

   Add more lead in the other two sizes, stepping the layers so the underbody is thickest through the middle and tapers toward each end of the shank.

3. 3

   Step 3

   Wrap the UNI UnDerBody over the lead to fill the steps and smooth the taper, then tie it off.

4. 4

   Step 4

   Start the black thread at the rear and tie in two lengths of Flex-Floss at the bend for the tails.

5. 5

   Step 5

   Tie in the black and Mottled Olive Dirty Bug Yarn at the rear, then take the thread forward to the front of the abdomen and let it hang.

6. 6

   Step 6

   Hold one yarn on each side of the hook and cross them so they lock together, then take them around the shank and cross them again for the Polish weave.

7. 7

   Step 7

   Work the weave forward to the front of the abdomen with each crossing tight against the last, then tie off both yarns and trim.

8. 8

   Step 8

   Put a pinch of each of the four Eco Warrior Dub colors in a small blender or coffee grinder and run it until they form a single mottled dubbing.

9. 9

   Step 9

   Dub the thread with the blend and wrap a band just ahead of the abdomen.

10. 10

    Step 10

    Tie a knot in lengths of Flex-Floss to form the leg joints, then tie them in at the sides of the thorax and trim them to length.

11. 11

    Step 11

    Cut a piece of Scud Skin to a point for a wing case and tie it in on top of the thorax, pointing back and a little crooked on purpose. Dub ahead of it.

    The off-center wing cases are part of the design, so do not line them up neatly.

12. 12

    Step 12

    Repeat with another set of knotted legs, more dubbing and a second crooked wing case, working toward the eye.

13. 13

    Step 13

    Form a dubbing loop ahead of the second wing case, spin the blend into a shaggy rope, wrap it forward and brush it out.

14. 14

    Step 14

    Coat the wing cases with Solarez resin and cure each coat with a UV light.

15. 15

    Step 15

    Tie in a last strip of Scud Skin behind the eye with the long end running forward over the eye, and tie in two lengths of Flex-Floss so they fork forward as antennae. Dub the head, fold the strip back over it, tie it down and trim it. Add a coat of resin and cure it.

16. 16

    Step 16

    Tie in the front legs just behind the head, whip finish and touch the thread with Z-Ment.