Leisenring’s black gnat tying tutorial.

Being that I love wet flies, soft hackles, flymphs, and spiders, I thought why not have a tutorial on tying the black gnat.  The recipe I followed is the one the famous James Leisenring wrote and tied.  With the addition of a thread rib for extra protection. This fly is proven effective time and time again. The fly shows what the famous north country spiders of the u.k. show.  Simplicity for imitation is best.

MATERIALS 

HOOK: Wet fly hook 14-20

THREAD: Claret 

BODY- 2-3 black turkey tail fibers from the top of the tail

HACKLE: purple iridescent starling

RIB: tag end of tying thread. 

 Start the thread and advance down to the point.

Be sure to wax the thread and don’t remove the thread tag. 

This will be the rib. 

This is the section of tail used for the body. 

Tie in the turkey tail by the tip at the back of the fly. 

Bring the thread forward. Leave a hook eye space. 

Wrap the turkey towards you on the way up.

Catch it in, tie it down and cut the excess. 

Wrap the the tag rib the same way you wrap

the thread. 

Select a starling feather. (Purple is green! Depending on the angle)

Strip away the fluff. 

Leave a bit at the base for a handle. 

Hold the very tip and pull back the fibers

Tie in the tip of hackle on your side with the front of the hackle facing you. 

Wrap the hackle. Touching turns. 

Tuck the stem back and wind back over it. Cut or break it away. 

Whip finish, varnish and the fly is complete.

Tying a cow dung wetfly

The cow dung pattern comes from a time long ago. When people fished for food and survival not for sport.  That alone should tell you how affective it can be.  This one can be extra fun to tie because you get to whip up your own dubbin blend. The colors called for are orange, yellow, olive,and tan.  I mixed all those colors and through some tan U.V. Ice dub.  So let’s tie one up for that trout of a life time!

    Materials. 

 Hook: Your favorite wetfly hook 10-16

Tag: Flat gold tinsel

Thread: Orange

Dubbing: Cow dung blend(orange,yellow,olive,tan)

Wings: Cinnamon hen saddle tips

Hackle: Brown hen neck hackle. 

Start your tying thread 1 hook eye back from the hook eye

Wind back to the point of the hook. 

         

Tie in the flat gold tinsel. Tie it back to the bend.

Then advance the tread, touching turns, back to the point. 

Wind the tinsel back to to the point. 

Touching turns and tie it off to secure the tag. 

This substance is called cobblers wax. 

I know veniards sells it. But you can make it yourself as well. 

Just take some bees wax and resin and mix it together. 

This is the wax I use to make sparse dubbed bodies and dubbing loops! 

Wax the thread and then just use dubbin very sparsely. 

Just touch the dubbin to the thread and what sticks is good. 

Make a dubbing loop by placing your finger on the tying thread,

And bring the thread over the hook shank to form the loop. 

Now you can spin the thread to make a dubbing brush. 

You can do this with certain bobbin holders like Marc petijean bobbin. 

Or you can use the numerous spinners that are out there. 

Leave a comment with your favorite! 

Now it’s time to wind your dubbing loop forward.  If you use a dubbing tool. 

You will need to advance the thread back to where we started the thread.

Then wind your dubbing brush up touching turns and tie off once you’ve made to the front. 

Prepare your hen saddle tips. Cut off the fluffy part.

Place the good side of the feather away from on another in your fingers. 

Then while pinching the tips, pull back the fibers to get the size of your wing. 

I like a wing the same length as the hook shank for these flies. 

Then hold them on top, points facing the rear of the fly. 

Pinch and loop them on top.  This can be tricky, just take your time. 

Now tie in the hackle. Have the shiny side up. 

Wind the hackle, stroking the fibers back as you wind. 

Depending on how your hackle is will determine the amount turns. 

A good rule of thumb with hen neck, is two-three turns. 

Whip finish and cut the thread. Head cement if you like too.  

And this concludes the tying of the cow dung hackle wing. The original calls for turkey for the wing.
Have a wet fly you wanna see tied here on the fly corner? Just leave a comment!  Feel free to share this info.