Hellgrammit Fly - First Try Needs Work

[mic]

So I took a stab at my first Hellgrammit fly. The recipe called using a rubber band. It needs some work but is promising. I think maybe marabou under the band in the tail area or just dropping the rubber band tail all together. Suggestions?

[jtram]

Work area is WAY to clean, how do you work like that?

 

Looking good, id drop the rubber band personally. 

[mic]

LOL. I don't have a work area.  I have a TV tray and wife makes me clean it up when I'm done.

[SpoonDog]

I actually like the rubber band idea.  If you've ever watched them swim around in a bucket it almost looks like their back third is hinged- they flap it around and that's how they propel themselves.  I imagine when they're washed out of the rocks they're not static, either.  The band may have the same movement and less likelihood to foul around the hook like marabou.  I'd test it out first before junking the rubber band idea

[Lancer09]

Ever thought about using the shortest flymen shanks? You could put a real hinge point in there. Or check out Cohens creatures and just color them. Your only tying part of it in so you get plenty of wiggle with the rest of the body. 

[jtram]

maybe chamois instead of rubber? might move too much?

[mic]

I actually like the rubber band idea.  If you've ever watched them swim around in a bucket it almost looks like their back third is hinged- they flap it around and that's how they propel themselves.  I imagine when they're washed out of the rocks they're not static, either.  The band may have the same movement and less likelihood to foul around the hook like marabou.  I'd test it out first before junking the rubber band idea

I figure I would try it three ways.  Just rubber band, rubber band over marabou, and just marabou.

[Jason R.]

Wouldn't just marabou be a wooly bugger?  If so- that will definitely work.  

[mic]

As the tail.  I was still going to add the rubber band cap.  But in short... different versions of wooly.  

[Gavin]

That looks like a hellgrammite, but they tend to swim backwards like a craw or curl up in a ball when you drop them in the water. Never have had much luck with imitative stuff. A plain old Pat's rubberlegs should do the trick.