The Big Ugly, a.k.a "The Dead Chicken"

[Steve Smith]

I contributed a Golden Crackleback in the first swap.

[Steve Smith]

Here's a picture of one after it's been battered several times by fish. I haven't figured out how to post a picture so here is the link

[Terry Beeson]

Wow... that is one big ugly dead chicken....

So... basically, this is a Griffith's Gnat with oversized badger hackle?

[Steve Smith]

That's it. It was a pretty nice tie, but Dano kept feeding it rainbows in Roaring River. I'll see if I can get a pic before Dano got hold of it.

[Kansas Fly Fisher]

Thanks for the help guys. Now it's time to time so up.

[Jeremy Hunt]

Hey Kansas,

Just want to let you know how I tie them and maybe this will help you a little when you are learning how to tie this fly. I've been playing with this fly a little and found a few things that might help you along the way. As you now and I know there are always things that might make you think about how to do this or that to make the fly look like the original pattern you are trying to copy.

What I have found to be a few key things to make this fly do right and look right is make sure you find a hook that has a wide hook gap. The reason being is the hackle will be longer than the gap and might hurt you on hook sets. I have found that the sproat bend style hook seems to be the best one as far as keeping fish on without getting off as much. The hook is the new line of mustad signature hook in a size 6 or 8. The style number is the R50 Dry/Wet standard hook. It's also a really strong hook just in case you have that big one on.

The next thing I have found to really make this fly ride right is the hackle. I have played with Keogh, Metz and some other cheap grizzly hackle types and they seem to not tie it the way it should look. The best hackle is the Whiting brand. They're two types you can buy and I have found the cheaper stuff is better. They retail for around nine dollars. I have heard people tying them in all kinds of ways, also tying in two or three hackles. I tie in two hackles and tie them on the side of the hook shank after I tied in my foam. When I tie in the hackle I want the hackles to kick out when I tie them to the bend. I wind one hackle in one direction and the other one the opposite. This makes the fly more durable and it really rides high on the water. Another thing you might want to do is make sure you tie in the ends of the foam in a taper look on both ends. This will make the hackle wrap smooth without grabbing or slipping around the foam. One thing before I forget is the foam is called Darice Foamies 2mm thick. It is 9"x 12" sheets and don't cost that much. I forget what I paid so I will leave it at that. Hope this helps you out. Here is a picture how I tie it.

[Kansas Fly Fisher]

Thanks Jeremy. I've already tied some like Steve suggested and they look good. I'll now try some your way, they look equally as good. Thanks for the info.

John