Deer Hair Bass Bug

Materials:

Hook: Mustad 37187, Size 1, or similar

Thread: Flat waxed nylon of contrasting color to body (so you can avoid cutting it when trimming the body).

Tail: Marabou

Collar:  Saddle hackles

Body: Deer hair, spun and clipped

Legs: medium rubber

Eyes: Doll eyes

Weedguard (optional): 30 lb test monofilament

Instructions:

1. For the weed guard, secure thread to the hook shank, wrap back to the bend. Cut a five or six inch section of monofilament. Hold the mono against the hook so one end is halfway between the hook point and the bend, the rest extending beyond the bend. Wind the thread back over the mono, pulling it toward you slightly to keep it on top. Keep the thread wraps tight. Cement the wraps and let this dry.

2. Select two marabou feathers of the desired color (purple in the illustration) and tie them to the hook shank about 2/3 of the way back from the hook eye to the bend, forming the tail.

3. For the collar, attach 1-2 contrasting (black above) saddle hackle feathers forward of the tail, then palmer them with 2- 3 wraps , stroking them back so they form a shroud over the start of the tail.

4. Place a modest quantity of deer hair fibers along the top of the hook shaft and loop the thread over the middle of the deer hair fibers. Wrap the thread over the middle of the deer hair fibers a second time while exerting some pressure on the thread. This pressure will cause the deer hair fibers to flare outward and form a bristling deer hair ball.

5. Use your thumb and forefinger to pull the bristling tips of the deer hair backward to compact the deer hair. Wrap the thread over the shaft of the hook directly in front of the compressed deer hair to keep the deer hair compacted. Compress the deer hair further using your thumbnail, or a compacting device if needed.

6. Continue adding more deer hair to the fly by repeating steps three and four. Add rubber legs between courses of deer hair wherever needed. Alternate the colors as desired.

7. When you pack and compress the last spun clump, you should have about half a hook-eye's width of space left on the shank. This space will give room to attach the front of the weed guard and enough space for a clean whip finish knot at the end.

8. Bring the weed guard monofilament around; being sure that it will clear the trimmed body enough so that you will not cut it when trimming the deer hair.

9. Use your scissors or double-sided razor blade to shape the compacted deer hair into whatever form you desire. Be careful not to cut the thread, legs or weed guard. Note that the bottom should be trimmed closer than the sides and top in order to give clearance to the hook point.

10. Glue on doll eyes to both sides as illustrated in the photo above.

For more details on creating these flies, contact Jim Swann, or go to the internet and search under Deer Hair Bass Bugs