The Triangle Bug
Tying Instructions For the Triangle Bug
Materials Needed:
- Pre-cut Triangle Bug Bodies or cut the diamond shapes yourself (color of choice)
- Triangle Bug Hooks or a hook matched to the size of your foam body (most 4x long hooks will work)
- Thread in color of choice: I use a 210 denier thread to quickly build a base layer on the hook shank and reduce the risk of cutting the foam.
- Calf tail in color of choice
- Silicon or round rubber legs in color of choice
Step 1
Mount hook in the vice. If using the Triangle Bug Hook its unique shape will keep the foam body from rotating on the hook
Step 2
Cover the hook shank with an layer of thread. Stop your thread on the hook shank above the barb of the hook.
Step 3
Cut a small clump of hair from a calf tail. After cutting off the clump hold the hair by the tips and strip away the under fur and any short fibers. The length of the tail should be a hook shank in length. tie the bundle to the top of the hook shank with a few firm turns of thread.
Step 4
Lash the remaining fibers down of the hook shank. Advance your thread to the front third of the hook, stopping two eye lengths back from the eye of the hook.
Step 5
At this point you will tie in your rubber legs. For the pre-cut Triangle Bug Bodies use legs 2 1/4 “ to 2 1/2” long. Take two legs and fold them around the thread at their mid-point. Take two or three light wraps of thread to secure them to the shank of the hook. Now maneuver the legs to each side of the hook shank. This will be easy to do if your thread wraps were not too tight.
Step 6
Once you legs are properly positioned take a few firm wraps of thread at the anchor point to lock them into place. After securing the legs advance the thread down the hook shank stopping where you tied in the tail.
Step 7
Prepare your foam diamond for placement on the hook. With a bodkin or needle poke a whole in the center of the diamond.
Step 8
Poke the eye of the hook through the hole in the foam.
Step 9
With the tip of you fingernail hold the top edge of the foam against the hook shank and secure with 4-5 firm wraps of thread.
Step 10
I use a rotary fly tying vise so I secure the top edge first. If using a non-rotary vise you may want to secure the bottom side first to make it easier to apply the super glue and finishing the fly.
Step 11
Rotate the vise to get access to the bottom of the fly.
Step 12
Apply super glue to the foam, being careful to avoid getting glue on the legs.
Step 13
Fold the foam over and pinch it closed with your fingertips until the glue sets up.
Step 14
Secure the bottom side of the foam with firm tread wraps
Step 15
Build up the thread wraps to match the taper of the foam, whip finish and cut off your thread.
Step 16
Apply head cement, super glue or UV resin to the thread wraps to protect them. This is a crucial step that will add durability to the fly. When removing the fly from a fish’s mouth with pliers or hemostats the hook is often grabbed in this area. This step will protect the thread and prevent it from breakage.
Step 17
My thread treatment of choice is UV resin. I use Solarez Bone Dry or Solarez Thin to coat the thread wraps then cure the resin with a UV light.
Congratulations!
You have just tied your first Triangle Bug! Now go get it wet!