Tying the Adult Blackfly

If you were to try to find one more misunderstood insect and its emergence characteristics it would be hard to find one more so than the Blackfly.  e Simulium is a common tailwater insect, most notably on the South Holston River in East Tennessee, formerly on the Jackson River below Gathright Dam, but it is also found in and is widespread in small streams as well.  Some local waters, Stone Mtn State Park, South Mtns, Watauga River, etc., and others, all these places have excellent populations of blackflies.  So why not imitate them?

When you see rises in cool/cold weather in slower pools often the fish are either rising to small bwos, midges, or blackflies, all of these, or some combination thereof.  But few folks imitate them, or at least realize what the fish are eating, and many unproductive angling hours result.  This is a pattern I created years ago, and was one of many flies that were featured in the book "Trout Flies of the East:  Best Contemporary Patterns from East of the Rockies"  by Jim Schollmeyer and Ted Leeson.  From that book the blackfly larva pattern I designed has become a tailwater go to fly for many folks in our area.

Its a simple pattern and is effective when tied in size 18-28.  I consider it a year round fly to have in a SoHo box, and suspect these little critters whenever there are those slow (as the English would say 'smutting') rises that look like little pin pricks on the surface- - - -because sometimes that is exactly what the fish are eating.  I like this fly in Black, gray, or olive.  All three work, if I settled on one it would be black.  Have fun with it and good tying!

Materials
Hook:  Dry Fly, size 18-28, if I had to have one size it would be a #24
Thread:  Unithread  8/0, black, gray, or white, I like 8/0 to keep things thin
Abdomen:   Dubbing, black
Wing:     Pair of goose biots tied in a 'V' flat
Hackle:  grizzly or lt blue dun, 3-5 turns
Head:  same as abdomen



Tying the Adult Blackfly


Steps 1-3   Start the thread just back of the hook eye, laying a thread base.  Apply dubbing sparingly to the tying thread, and build a rounded "lump" like body as shown, it will look much like the rear of an ant.

 
Steps 4-6  Select two gray or white goose biots, trim the ends to a slant, and tie them in as shown.  The final position of the biots should be in a 'V' as shown.  Take care not to make them too long.

 
Step 7-8  Tie in a grizzly hackle, take 3-5 turns and tie off.  With some more dubbing, create a rounded head as shown.  Whip finish and  cement.
 

                                                                   



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                                Here's two clips from one of my all-time favorite tyers Davey McPhail

                        
                         


    
                                                            
                                                            

                                                   Jeffrey Wilkins Fly Tying
                                           3703 Windspray Court 
                                                             Summerfield, NC 27358
                                           (336) 644-7775   jeff@jeffreywilkinsflyfishing.com