Current Works

Fly Tying Instructions for a Clown Rag

The Rag style egg is a pattern tied loosely which is quite a departure from the very solid Glo Bug. It is translucent and shows multiple colors in a very organic way which is in part why it is so effective at representing eggs in various stages. This style also tends to sink when wet as opposed to floating or staying suspended like some of the solid egg patterns tied tightly with egg yarn.

The following directions are for a clown style but colors and combinations are endless. Play around and see what works best for you.                   

Some of my personal favorites combinations are: Oregon Cheese and Steelhead Orange, Egg and Sockeye, Oregon Cheese, Chartreuse, Pink Lady, Steelhead Orange and Egg, Flame and Steelhead Orange (Light Clown).

Note: When tying this pattern to use suspended off of the bottom under floats, I prefer to use Daiichi 1640 #6 hooks as they are a little lighter wire but still strong enough for bringing fish to the net.

Recipe: (Dark Clown)

Hook:            TMC 105 # 6-10

Thread:         Uni 6/0 – Color of Choice

Egg Yarn:      Chartreuse, Steelhead Orange, Cerise, Flame, Shrimp Pink 

Step 1. Cut 1 ¼” pieces of yarn in the various colors and remove parts of the yarn as a full piece of egg yarn is too much. The amount of yarn varies and depends on hook size and the amount of translucency desired. A starting point for size 8 hooks is to use just a little less than the diameter of a pencil. If you want one color to be more prominent, use more of it and less of another.

Step 2. Once hook is in the vise, wrap a thread base from behind the eye to above the hook point.

Step 3.  Separate 2 colors (typically the bolder ones) of yarn and lay them perpendicular to the hook shank and tie in a crisscross manner similar to tying lead dumbbell eyes.

Step 4. Advance the thread in front of the yarn and tie in the remainder of the yarn in the same fashion.