A Low Cost Simple Fly
originated by: Ed Engelman
Ed Engelman.com
Low Budget Fishing And Fly Tying
An item as simple as a rubber band can be tied to a fishing hook
and can be used to catch bass and pan fish. I developed this fly
to demonstrate that fly tying can be inexpensive. I fish with it
because with it I can catch bass! The Band It fly has been very productive
for me from spring through mid summer fishing.
An important feature of this fly is that the tail end of the band is slit
in half or thirds. When the “Band It” is fished alternately moderately
fast and very slow, it can stimulate a fish to strike the “Band It” in
the same manner that the fish would attack their natural prey. I
often use #84 rubber bands that are 1/2 inch wide by 3 1/2 inches (measured
lying flat folded). Each of these rubber bands can be used to tie
two flys or jigs when the band is cut into two pieces that are 1/2 inch
by 3 1/2 long.
Whether they are tied as a fly, Clouser fly, or as a jig, they can be “dressed”
to your own liking. Sometimes I tie them with gold tinsel bodies,
sometimes with red dubbed bodies, sometimes with no body at all.
Sometimes I add purple tinsel cheeks made from folded and heat sealed
potato chip bags. Sometimes I paint the last 1/2 inch of the tail
with glitter nail polish! I often tie in eyes made from medium or
heavy beaded chain. This is a versatile inexpensive fly that you
may wish to add to your fly box.
To tie the fly, tie in the thread and wrap to the bend of the hook and
back to 1/2 inch from the hook eye. Next, trim one end of the
rubber band to form a tab about 1/8 inch wide by 3/4 inch long. Then
tie the rubber band in with the tail laying over the eye of the hook. Next
tie in the body and the beaded chain eyes (both optional). Then fold
the rubber band back and over the beaded chain so that the tab only covers
the center portion of the chain, and tie the rubber band again behind the
eyes. Complete the head with wraps of thread in front of the eyes
and tie off with several half hitches. Coat the head with water based
polyurethane, finger nail polish or, head cement. With a scissors,
carefully slit the tail end in half or thirds. Notches can
now be cut from the part of the rubber band over the shank of the hook
to give the appearance of legs. Next, go fishing with a Band-It.
Hook
Size 6 to 1/0
Eyes-Optional
Beaded chain
Body -Optional
Gold tinsel or dubbed in red or purple
Tail
Rubber band 1/2” X 3 1/2”
Cheek-Optional
Tinsel or folded /heat sealed potato chip bag (purple works well)
e mail
Ed@EdEngelman.com