Humpy.html

The Humpy by Michael Valentiner

This pattern has a reputation as being a real pain to tie. Sorry, I don't have any tricks to make it easier, but I don't think its all that tough.

Hook: Standard Dry Fly, sizes 6-16
Thread: 6/0 Yellow, Orange, or Green
Underbody: Yellow, Orange, or Green (to match thread)
Tail: Moose Body Hair
Body / Wing: Deer or Elk Hair
Hackle: Grizzly

1 Lay down a base of thread from the eye to the end of the shank (i.e., the start of the bend). Tie in a small clump of Moose Hair for the tail. The length should be the length of the shank.

Figure 1

2 Clip, clean, and stack a clump of Deer or Elk Hair. The thickness of the clump is of utmost importance. Too thin and your Humpy will turn out sparse. Too much and it'll be too hard to work with. After tying a few, you'll know the right amount. You want as much as possible without it being to difficult to work with. A clump about 1/4" in diameter is right for size 10 hook.

3 Measure the length to be twice the length of the shank, clip the butts square, and tie in the hair with the tips pointing toward the tail. Make sure to leave amble space behind the eye, about 1/4". This is one pattern where you don't want to crowd the eye.

4 Secure the hair to the shank bringing the thread to the start of the bend. Tie in the floss and return the thread to the point just in front of the hair butts. See figure 2.

Figure 2

5 Wrap the floss to make the underbody and tie off when you reach the thread.

6 This part can be a little tricky. Separate the hair for the overbody from the Moose Hair and bend it forward. Keep the fibers up on top and tie them down to the shank just in front of the hair butts. It should look like Figure 3.

Figure 3

7 Bend the tips up and make a bunch of wraps of thread in front of them to keep them upright. Separate the tips into two clumps and wrap a figure eight to form the wings.

8 Select a Grizzly hackle and tie it in with the tip pointing to the rear. Take three turns behind the hair wing and three turns in front. Tie it off, whip finish, and you're done.

The Humpy