This is my first shot at a step by step so be gentle with me. Here's a little quickie that is relatively straight forward to tie and a useful fly to have in the fly-box.

Red brassie midge


Hook 16 - 20 grub/caddis hook (I've used a size 12 here to make it easier to see)
Thread - Black 8/0
Body - Red wire, small dia.
Thorax - peacock herl
Head - Gold bead to suit size of hook


Put bead onto hook and secure with thread turns, tie in red wire.



After tying in wire just after the bead cover it with tight thread turns down to past hook bend, try to keep the wire on the top of the hook.


Take thread back up to behind bead with tight turns forming taper to body. Wrap wire up hook shank with tight turns up to thread and tie in with thread.


Tie in peacock herl behind bead and wrap with thread up to wire, wrap herl around the thread and wrap with tight turns to form thorax and then tie off. If desired wrap 2 or 3 more turns of thread around herl for extra hold.


Finish off with a whip finish behind bead.


Happy tying

Mark

Nice step by step, to get a stronger herl section twist the peacock around the thread.


Al

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Tie in peacock herl behind bead and wrap with thread up to wire, wrap herl around the thread and wrap with tight turns to form thorax and then tie off. If desired wrap 2 or 3 more turns of thread around herl for extra hold.


That`s what I thought he said,


Dave

Great tip it bleeding snaps all the time with me on these wee miracle nymphs.It just shows how great all the people on here are with advice.

Great step by step wingman I'll be doing a few of them now thanks.What make of wire is that?

Pete

__________________
Thanks to all who donated to 999 comp 2011
New rainbow PB 22 lbs Bangour 23/10/2011

I did do it that way Al, as I remember it was you who gave me that tip in the first place I suppose I havn't made it that clear in the step by step. I find if you create a corkscrew kind of effect with the herl around the thread that it tends to look better as its wrapped.

Thanks paramedicpete, the wire I used is Turrel red copper wire 0.20mm, it's a good job that these are tied on smaller hooks as the stuff aint cheap for what you get. i'm not sure if you can get less than 0.20mm but the smaller the hook size the better the advantage of smaller dia. wire I suppose.

Sorry trying to play black ops and read and type at the same time isn't that good.

If you really want to make the fly bomb proof add a thin layer of varnish under the wire and herl.

AL

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The Brassie is a great fly for learning how to wind wire properly. It is one of the first fly lessons in Charlie Craven's book. The trick to tightly wound wire is to wind with the wire tilted backwards (to the left for the right-handed tier) letting the previous wrap guide the next into place.

Now try it with two strands of wire of different colours for a nice segmented effect. (Wind them both together obviously.)

I have some copper wire I think I could try it with that until I get some red wire maybe with hothead lol

Pete

__________________
Thanks to all who donated to 999 comp 2011
New rainbow PB 22 lbs Bangour 23/10/2011