The latest FlyTyer Magazine features a few classic hair wing style flies. I thought I would build the "Little Brown Trout" and augment it with a few substitute materials and some epoxy. This in on a Size #6 7X long DT Daichii Streamer hook.



The belly is Arctic Runner (Icelandic Horse Hair), as is the orange under wing. Then there is some Crystal Flash, Fox Squirrel Tail and then finally a peacock colored synthetic fiber on top. The body is lead wrapped and covered in mylar flash tubing and overcoated with Epoxy. I added a coat of Hard Head over the epoxied body for added luster and uv stability. The head has Gold 3-D eyes and is covered with Loon Hard Head coatings; Green to Blue SW Skalze and a clear topcoat.

Next I'll try this style in an Anchovie color for the harbors and inshore.

Rich Lewis

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Loyd-Just look at what you have started!

Hey Rich, This is a nice looking fly and I have a question. Since you tied this this style of fly back in March have you fished it with any success? If so please, what was the water and target species? Also For the Hard head are you talking about Loon if so is it the water soluable stuff or the original. I think this style would be effective on a lot of species if tied in appropriate sizes. Anyway good work. HC

Hi and thanks for the response. I really like this pattern too. In fact-the Anchovy pattern is published in the Sept. 04 issue of FlyFish America Magazine. They credited "Scott Lewis" in error. Oh well-they've got the last name correctly noted and the fly recipe is pretty true.
Here is an image of that fly below:



Yes-I was able to fish the Epoxy Hairwing this summer on Scott River Bows and it worked very well: so well that I would recommend fishing it barbless. The grabs were serious.

I used Water Based Loon Hard Head. It is not water soluable once cured/ dried. Furthermore, waterbased polymers can be more resistant to moisture than epoxies. You could certainly make this fly using only Epoxy, Loon Hard Head, or even Loon UV Knot Sense. I usually coat the finished head in a clear topcoat in any case. Sally Hansons is a good choice if you don't feel comfortable with the Loon Hard head.
Rich

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Loyd-Just look at what you have started!

Hi Rich,

I've been using the Loon water-based head finisher on my saltwater flies to protect the threads to the brass eyes, not comfortable working with epoxy and Sally Hanson's puts out too much odor. The problem I have is the material turns milky white after exposure to saltwater, or just water, for any length of time. Do you notice the same problem? It tends to cover up the colors of the flies. Any recommendations or corrections in my application of the material?

Thanks,
Jack

I have not used the Loon Head Cement. Maybe that is a different chemical? I would not hestitate in contacting Loon and ask to speak with their staff Formulator/Chemist. They are improving their potions all of the time. If you have something that is not working-they will usually offer an exchange for something that will.

I have not seen their coatings turn milky so far. I have fished some in FW and SW-but I don't soak them all day either. That's all I have....

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Loyd-Just look at what you have started!

Rich, Thanks for the reply, I have no experience with the water based polyester coating but since I have health issues I need to locate some before I tie anymore epoxy style flies. Could you recommend some place I could order some? I like to buy in California whenever I can, so anyplace doing email orders in the state works for me. Also the olive ancovie looks delicious to me, but then, all your ties I looked at seem real nice are real nice. What did you use to build and color the head with. Thanks again. Harley

Harley-You can get most of the common materials in CA by shopping at Bob Marriott's, His N Hers Fly Shop, The Fly Shop in Reddington, San Jose FlyShop, or the Eueka Fly Shop. Those are all great shops.

The Icelandic horse hair is harder to find. Search online for Arctic Runner. Guess you could substitute Foxx, Craft Furr or LLama.

Consider buying a UV cure light and UV KNot Sense from Loon. Small investment-no mixing and instantanious results which are durable enough.

To use Loon Hard Head-you'll need an electric turning wheel, as it is thin, drips and requires multiple coats to build-up a head like those shown.

On that Anchove, The head was Epoxy Doped with Micro HoloGlitter, then colored with a Green marker on the top/back and a Silver Sharpie on the underside.

Go for it!

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Loyd-Just look at what you have started!

Rich thanks for sharing so much knowledge with us novice tiers. I will definitely tie some up. Gonna make a few big ones for delta stripers. But I did once get a nice steelie on a rainbow colored deceiver! So be making a a few smaller ones for sure. Yea, I never even heard of using horse hair for tieing flies. So now its giddyup to the phone and vice. Cheers and tight lines. Harley

Hey Rich, I put in an order for the Arctic Runner horse hair couple days back. I got some of the standard lenght and some 15+ stuff. My order confirmation is in Icelandic language so I can't tell when it will get in. I went to Last Hope sportfishing-iceland.com to order. They only had like four colors in the 15+ but I think it will be ok. Anyway thanks for the help. Cheers. HC

Hello dear i think this is a nice looking fly and I have a question. Since you tied this this style of fly back in March have you fished it with any success? If so please, what was the water and target species? Also For the Hard head are you talking about Loon if so is it the water soluable stuff or the original....!!!

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