Step by step instruction
Place bead on hook, and set in the vise.
Tie in the hot spot at the end of the shank, just as the hook bends into the gape, with UNI-Thread 8/0 Fire Orange and coat with UV resin. (Casting on with 5 turns, and whipping off with 6 or 7 turns is plenty for a hot spot. Keep it subtle as the thread is highly UV reflective and we want to attract the fish, not put them off).
Tie on with UNI-Thread 8/0 Black directly behind the bead. Take the thread down the shank to the half way point between the hot spot and the bead. Take a short length of .25 lead wire and insert it under the bead, tying in along the top of the shank, back down to the half way point. Break off the lead wire, and evenly cover the lead wire in thread.
Tie in a length of UNI-Soft Wire Small Copper from the bead, down to just in front of the hot spot.
Take a pair of smooth jaw long nose pliers and flatten the end of the lead wire, forming a smooth transition between the hook and the thorax. Cover any broken threads with more thread, but make sure to keep everything smooth.
Take your thread down to the hot spot.
Tie in 5 or 6 PT fibers immediately in front of the hot spot to form the tail, on top of the shank. Two turns will hold it easily, then advance your thread to just behind the bead.
Keeping the tail fibers straight, wind the remaining section of pheasant fibers in touching turns all the way to the bead & secure with 3 wraps. Snip off the waste.
Rib the UNI-Soft Wire up the shank in the opposite direction to the PT, and secure behind the bead and snip off the waste.
Take 10 PT fibers and tie in on top of the shank with the points extending over the bead by 7-9mm. These will form the legs. Secure the remaining PT fibers onto the hook, down to the halfway point.
Take a length of UNI-Mylar #12 Red/ Green, and tie in from the bead, down to the half way point. With the red side facing down. (This is tied in on top of the PT fibers)
Wind your thread over the Mylar, down to the half way point. (Optional, you can add CA glue here if you want for added durability)
Take a single Peacock Hearl, and tie in, wrapping it forward in touching turns to form the thorax, tie in and snip off the waste.
Bring the Mylar forward over the hearl, and secure behind the bead. (This will expose the red side of the Mylar.
Divide the legs, 5 per side and gently push down the sides of the fly.
Bring the butt ends of the PT fibers over the Mylar, spreading them into two groups of 5, and directing them towards the sides of the fly.
The intension here is to open the butt sections of the PT fibers up as your bring them forward, exposing the red Mylar below. This is mimicking the split case of the emerger.
Secure the fibers with 3 wraps of thread and snip off the waste.
Whip finish with 4 turns.
Coat the wing case in UV activated resin and set with UV torch.
You're now Finished. Go catch a monster.
All the best,
Steve Grace