Materials:
Hook: Size 14 curved hook
Thread: 8/0 thread
Bead: 1/8 gold bead
Body: Rayon embroidery thread in two contrasting colors
Legs: Round rubber legs
Thorax: Peacock herl
Hackle: Grizzly hackle fibers
Begin by opening the gap of the hook a bit with pliers. Bend the hook
shank down somewhat to make a more bug like body shape. Place the bead
on the hook and slide it up to the eye
Start the
thread behind the bead and wrap back into the hook bend. Tie in four
or five grizzly hackle fibers.
Tease out
one or two strands of thread (there are six in each piece of rayon)
from a six inch piece of the rayon weaving material. Tie in along the
side of the hook shank from the back to just about the halfway point
of the shank. Repeat with the other section of rayon on the other side
of the hook. Tie in a half hitch and cut off so you can begin weaving.
Use the
overhand knot weave to make an abdomen up to the halfway point on the
shank. Start your tying thread again and secure both pieces of weaving
material. Trim the ends and put in another half hitch.
Wrap your
thread forward 3 or four turns and tie in a strand of peacock herl.
Allow it to lie out past the rear of the hook.
Cut the
rubber legs into three one inch sections. Lay the first one across the
top of the hook just forward of the woven section, and tie it in using
light thread tension with a figure eight wrap. It should resemble a
wing on an airplane. After it is secure, make a couple of regular wraps
around the shank and slip in another section of leg on the near side
of shank and tie this in with medium pressure. Repeat on the far side
with the last section of leg. From above, the legs should resemble an
X with a cross bar bisecting them. Wrap forward making sure not to alter
the pattern the legs are splayed in. Place a drop of head cement on
top of the legs to secure them in this shape.
Palmer
the peacock herl around, over and between the legs until it is behind
the bead. Tie it in and trim the end off the herl. Whip finish, and
apply head cement.
Dirk Burton
