In this week’s great tying video from Tim Flagler of Tightline Productions, he walks you through the steps required to make a simple mayfly pattern that’s a variation on both Fran Betters’s Usual and Al Cauci’s Comparadun. The result is a mayfly imitation with a great profile that floats well and is stable on the water. The synthetic tail and wings help keep the pattern upright on the surface. Best of all, the tying process is straighforward and fast. You can tie these in any color to match your local mayflies throughout the season.
PMD Trigger Point Usual
Hook: Dry-fly hook (here, a Fulling Mill 5050), size 12-18.
Thread: Pale yellow Veevus, 10/0.
Wing base: Pale Yellow beaver-fur dubbing.
Tail & wing: Medium Caddis Grey EP Trigger Point Fibers.
Body: Pale Yellow beaver-fur dubbing.
Head: White tying thread
Adhesive #3: Head cement (here, Sally Hansen Hard-as-Nails).
Tools: Ruler, long chip clip, dubbing whirl, bodkin, plunger-style hackle pliers, whip-finish tool, dubbing brush.
