I have posted several tyings for buzzers using various man made synthetics and I thought it time that I went back to what our grandads used to fish with and not a single sparkle or flash in sight.

This is a basic stripped hackle stalk buzzer, (see posting about stripping hackle stalks) the good thing about then is that you can use almost any longish hackle feather that you have lying around. This is in Olive as it is one of the colours that I prefer for buzzers of this type so go grab that 5 quid cape and we will get started.

Apologies again to the left handed tyers as it is a right handed jobby again, if I had been ambidextrous then things could have been more interesting!

Materials -

Hooks - from size 18 to 12s Kamasan B100s

Thread - UTC 140 Olive

Hackle - in this case - Olive ****** piece - the muckle big ones that were no good for anything but lures

Wingcase - Cock Pheasant Tail Fibres

Thorax - Hot Olive Seals Fur



Run your thread down the hook of choice into the bend, on smaller sizes allow the thread to flatten out and reduce bulking



Cut your hackle stalk at the appropriate thickness - experience will make this easier



Tie in the hackle stalk at the bend and return the thread to the thorax area in tight touching turns



Wind your hackle stalk in touching turns to the thorax area and tie in with a couple of turns before cutting off the excess



Catch in your pheasant tail fibres and secure with a couple of turns. I use about 7 or 8 for a size 12 and reduce this to about 4 or 5 for a size 16



Dub on your seals fur to form a thin rope, wax the thread beforehand on the larger sizes of hook. If you find that your rope is too long and going to bulk the thorax just pull the excess from the thread and keep for the next one



Form the thorax and leave a little space behind the hook eye



Gently pull the pheasant tail fibres forwards and secure with a couple of turns of thread



Trim of the excess length and whip finish before varnishing. To reduce bulk try whipping 3 turns followed by a fresh whipping of 3 more



As a good rule, practice the rule of 6, tie 6 in each size before progressing to another fly, this gives you good practice



Another good rule is to tie up in several sizes as I did here

__________________
Roddy

"Sod it! I am going out to sink a klink!"

Very nice, the stalk gives a good impression of segmentation.

Here is a buzzer pattern I use;

Hook: Kamasan B100 (12 or 14)
Body: Black Seals Fur
Rib: Black Floss (the floss against the fur gives a good impression of segmentation)
Wings/Buds: I first used a pair of white cock hackle tips, but now I use white maribou
Thorax cover: Pheasant tail fibres
Thorax: Black seals fur
Hackle: Black Cock (one turn)

Try and use a finer thread like danville's 8/0 it really improves your tying.

__________________
Cromie

Matt,

UTC 140 is the equivelant of 8/0, the 70 is equal to 6/0. I used to use Danville monocord all the time but found it hard to get the basic colours, since switching to UTC I have found that this is just as good in all colours except black for some reason. It has a tendency to fray easily, even with a new bobbin holder and a modified one with glass guides but none the less, it does the job well.

TLs

__________________
Roddy

"Sod it! I am going out to sink a klink!"

Aye you saying there is something wrong with this tying?

There certainly is not. It's an excellent fly and bring back some old memories of when I used to fish buzzers. Thanks Albannach cuileag.

Brennan

Danville's Flymaster 6/0 ties as finely ( if not more finely!) as any of the "8/0" threads on the market. Nice thread to work with, and nice colours particularly among the yellows.

The " */0 " rating is only really of any value between threads from the same stable ( Try comparing Uni-Thread 6/0 with the Danville's stuff!).

I don't see a problem with the thread choice (UTC 140) in this step-by-step, for what it's worth.

Cheers,

.D.

Nice flies but I agree with Cromie about the choice of thread. I personally use UTC threads for almost everything but the 70 denier is the thinner one, not the 140 denier as you have suggested. For buzzers down to size 16 as you have tied, the 70 denier would be more suitable and would allow for a neater head.

__________________
Tight Lines, Troutbum

Apopologilies to all then!

Not being a stocking or tights wearer, I did not make the linkage to thickness, I stand corrected.

__________________
Roddy

"Sod it! I am going out to sink a klink!"

UTC140 indeed! Hang your head in shame you naughty boy.
Very nice step by step, as always. Thank you for sharing.

__________________

ukflydressing A UK based fly tying site packed full of flyting tips and photographic step by steps. Now with added fly fishing section.

The fish don't wear tights or stockings either Al, certainly not the ones I catch anyway, and that fly is a definite fish catcher.
No need to "Apopologilies" my friend, just keep up the good work.

Steve