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Orange Fuzzy Wuzzy

Tied  By Bill Sadler

Natural history: Design intent was to imitate small crayfish and shrimp. However, it is a useful broad-spectrum imitator of dragonfly and other nymphs. Tumbled down a stream, fish take it for a beetle. It has the key colour of floating snails when viewed from below, and can be a good sub-surface fly when the snails are 'up' crawling under the surface film.
 

Recipe

Hook: Size 2-10 Long Shank
Thread Black.
Tail Black-dyed squirrel.
Body Chenille, either black, red, yellow, green, or orange. (Orange is best for African use.)  A black, long-fibred, hen hackle is tied halfway along the body.
Hackle

Black hen.

   
 
Fishing: Usual method is to fish slowly right on the bottom with a sinking line, giving an occasional fast strip. In high summer when water temperatures rise, snails sometimes come to the surface in late afternoon and evening. Use a floating line with tippet greased to within 10 cm of the fly, and retrieve very slowly.
Notes: A New Zealand designed fly, essentially for crayfish imitation. Often works when snails are up and nothing else will interest the trout; can prove a real day saver.

Recipe taken from Flies for South African Waters by Bill Hansford-Steele