Chain flies

Chain flies

by Kuba Chruszczewski

        In the first part of the notes describing my spinning workshop, I discussed the organization of the workstation, and the basic tools for making artificial flies. New materials, whether natural or synthetic, appear from time to time. However, when it comes to the construction of an artificial fly, one would think that not much can be invented anymore. A fly made on a single, single, hook is the most common design all the time. The vast majority of wet flies, dry flies, nymphs and streamers are built this way. But specific conditions, fishing methods, or the fish that are the object of fishing often force the use of various innovations. Salmonid fishing flies, especially small ones, are most often made on double hooks or, in the case of very small lures, on triple hooks. Tube flies are commonly used for salmonid fishing. Tandem flies and intruders have their advantages when you want to use a lure that is large and very large, while not too heavy. Relatively recently in the workshops of spinners appeared the so-called „articulated shank” - making it possible to make an interestingly working fly with an articulated structure. Such a fly is built on a hook connected to an appropriately shaped wire shank, which forms its front, or - less often - back part. This type of construction inspired American fly fisherman and flytier, Blane Choclett. And here we have another novelty - the Game Changer Streamer. „The backbone” of the fly is a chain of several wire shanks connected together. Game Changer properly made and properly guided has an unusual action, its movements in the water deceptively resemble the behavior of a weakened or injured fish - and these are the ones most often attacked by predators.

I invite you to join the vice:

We can compose a multi-segment fly in a great many combinations.

I place the first, shortest segment in the vise. I wind the leading thread ( preferably double). In the separated thread I place the dubbing, I twist.

I wind the dubbing on the shaft, finishing with a finisher.

I merge the next segment, which is a little longer, with the previous one.

I repeat the operation of winding the dubbing - it can be in a different color. I thoroughly comb out with a sharp brush. In this way I build the body of the fly from wire segments.   

Each successive one should be a little longer than the previous one, mostly there are 3-5 of them.

Now I place an appropriately sized hook in the vise. I tie a double folded braided line to the shank .

I thread the braid through the eyelet of the last element, fix the braid to the hook very solidly, overlapping, sealing the binding.

Now on the hook, as previously on the wire segments, I wind the dubbing.

I shave the whole thing, giving the bow tie the desired profile.

I glue large, expressive eyes, and darken the back with a waterproof marker.

Game Changer ready.

Sometimes the front armament is not enough. Sometimes fish, even large ones, gently nibble the bait by the tail. Then to the eye of the first segment you can attach an extra hook with a small but strong safety pin.

Game Changer in several variants.

            A slightly different design of multi-segment lure came off my vice in preparation for an April trip to Danish sea trout. It happens that at this time in coastal waters large marine annelids - nereids - appear in large numbers. They appear en masse in connection with reproduction and at this time are the main food of sea trout. Inspired by the imitation of a nereid made by Luke Ostafin, one of the best spinners I know, and supplementing it with some of my own solutions, I coined such a „bug”:

In the vise I fix the marine hook. I solidly tie a double braided line about 15 cm long to it. On the hook I make a simple fly - a boa and a blackberry made of soft rabbit hair.

Now it's time to make a series of simple tube flies. A tube put on a special needle, I thread a small plastic sequin onto the tube.

He ties a leading thread, makes a dubbing of soft fur with a shiny addition.

You will need to make several such flies. The fur on the next ones should get longer and longer.

I thread the flies onto the braided line tethered to the hook, pre-parting them with beads.

That much should be enough.

Now I firmly tie the braid to the hook - it should be two numbers larger than the rear hook.

On the hook I make a fly using the method as before. I add heavy eyelets.

Finished nereid.

Placing the load in front causes a properly guided fly to make enticing, „worm-like” movements.