Under Hackle Mayfly

Here's Chris Sandford's step-by-step guide to the Under Hackle Mayfly - which trout can't resist!

Trout can't resist

When it's Mayfly time on our English Chalk Streams it can be too easy to catch a good Trout - but they soon learn! Here's Chris Sandford's step-by-step guide to the Under Hackle Mayfly - which trout simply can not resist! You will need: Under Hackle Mayfly. Thread: Sheer Black. Hook: Tiemco 2487 or Kamasan B100 size 12. Body: Cream closed cell foam. Hobby Craft Large sheet 60p. Hackle: Black. Wing: Aero Dry Wing. Medium Dun or White. Markings: Brown marker pen for marking head and body.

Step 1

Place a needle in the vice and be extra careful! Cut a strip of cream closed cell foam about 2-3mm wide and 10cm long. (From a large sheet. Hobby Craft 60p!) Find the centre point and push it onto the hook about 25cm back from the point. In open spiral turns tie in 3 paintbrush bristles for the tail returning the thread to the foam. The tails should approximately the same length as the body.

Step 2

Grip the foam either side of the needle and bring the thread over in a loose wrap in preparation to make the head of the fly. When happy with the size make two firm wraps and then pass the thread between the foam, toward the point. Now make a small bed 2mm wide for where the wing will be tied in and once again pass the thread between the foam toward the point. Wrap the thread forward towards the point then bring it once over the foam to make the first section of the body. When satisfied with the size of the section add 2-3 further wraps of thread. This will be the largest section. Repeat for each section after this making them a little smaller than the one before. Continue until you have tied 6 graduating sections in all and whip finish. Clip the thread.

Step 3

Carefully cut away any excess foam and wipe a little varnish into the turns of thread above and below each segmentation. Take a brown or black marker pen and colour in the head and mark each side and underside of the body. Slide the body off the needle and REMOVE THE NEEDLE! Split the tails and fix in position with a little Bug Bond or varnish.

Step 4

Place a Tiemco 2487 size 12, or any equivalent grub hook, in the vice. Tie in a good quality cock hackle along the side of the hook shank protruding over the eye. The hackle will be wound anti-clockwise so remove 4-5mm of fibres from the inner side of the hackle stem. Now tie on the body at the wing tie in point. This should be a little back from the eye, so the head protrudes slightly over the eye.

Step 5

Tie in a Polypropylene wing with figure of eight wraps plus two wraps around the base of the wings to stand them up. Move the thread to behind the eye. Wind the hackle for three turns between the body and the hook shank and tie off behind the eye. Whip finish. Put a small 'blob' of Bug Bond or varnish on the wraps under the body. This will secure the hackle and help to balance the fly. Trout don't really know they're hungry 'til they've seen one of these!