The Sparkler

"The Sparkler has always been a bogey fly for me despite giving it a fair chance but for others seems to a real killer especially towards the end of the season when the fry are around in numbers. Here I have tied a very basic version in keeping with comp rules (so no artificial weighting, tied on a hook no more than 5/8Th's of an Inch long and the dressing itself no more than 15/16Th's of an inch long)".

Paul Evans

The Dressing:
Hook: Kamasan B175 size 10
Thread: Fl. Orange UTC
Tail: Silver, UV and Pearl Barr Brothers Flash
Body: Silver micro fritz
Wing: Silver, UV and Pearl Barr Brothers Flash

Tying Instructions:
1. Catch the thread in, make a few touching turns down the hook shank then leave the bobbin to hang.

2. Separate (but at this point don't cut) a small bunch of the tinsel from the main hank 20 strands is ample, lay them along the top of the hook shank so that their ends lie over the bend by approximately a tails length plus a bit (will trim later). Bind the bunch to the hook shank tightly with several turns of thread, at this point the length of the tail can be adjusted by pulling the tinsel through the thread wraps in either direction as necessary (still a little more than a tails length) once you have the tail length about right make several more tight wraps of thread.

3. Once you are certain that the tinsel can't come away from the hook if you tugged it snip off the excess tinsel at the eye of the hook, don't leave the small separated bunch mix back with the rest of the hank, you will need it again for the wing of the fly.

4. Hold the tinsel at a slight angle to the hook shank (but in line with it) and whip down to the bend of the hook in touching turns, the aim isto keep the bunched up tinsel lying on top of the hook shank.

5. Having reached the bend of the hook now tie in the body material (remember to strip the fibers away from the core first) whip over the end of the core in touching turns whilst traveling back to the hook eye.

6.Wind the micro fritz along the hook shank in touching turns, stopping back from the eye a little to allow room for the wing and head of the fly, secure the tinsel with several tight turns of thread then trim out the excess.

6.Take the bunch of tinsel you separated for the tail in step 2. then cut of a section double the length of your intended wing plus a bit to hold onto whilst trimming later on, bind this TIGHTLY to the hook shank halfway along its length. 7. Fold over the section of fibers extending over the hook eye back to meet the other section and whilst holding it there whip over the tinsel to hold it back This is one of just a few patterns where I would sacrifice a small neat head in favour of a super tough fly that won't fall apart after one fish has got hold of it, so don't worry if it doesn't look neat, the fish certainly won't care. 8. Make some extra turns of thread to make the head as neat as possible, add a few half hitches or a whip finish then trim out the thread.

9. Grip both the tail and the wing and the same time and pull taught, then take a sharp scissors and make one clean cut to trim the tinsel to the desired length.

 

 

 

10. Add some head cement and you're done.