In this week’s episode of Tying Tuesdays, watch as Brady ties the Designated Hitter!
The Designated Hitter is one of those sleeper summertime dry flies that fishes lights out. For some reason, I love the way bullet head flies look. This adaptation of the classic Madam X by David Hill of Umpqua Feather Merchants wears it well. It is already a super buoyant bug with the foam underbody. Adding the Semperfli Poly Yarn as the body material assists its float-ability. The Designated Hitter can be easily modified to imitate not only a wide array of stonefly dry flies but also a variety of other riverside terrestrials. This pattern is a great attractor on its own but also works wonderfully in a multi-fly rig with your favorite bedhead dropped 12-18 inches below.
Ingredients & Recipe
- Hook – Tiemco TMC 2302 Hook* (Size 8 – 12)
- Thread – Uni Waxed Thread (6/0 Yellow)
- Glue – Zap-A-Gap (Medium CA)
- Underbody – 2mm Thin Tying Foam (Tan)
- Abdomen – Semperfli Poly-Yarn (Yellow)
- Under Wing – D’s Flyes Web Wing (Mottled Brown)
- Wing – Elk Hair (Natural)
- Head – Hareline Superfine Dubbing (Pale Yellow)
- Hackle – Whiting Farms Pro Grade Cape* (Barred Dark Ginger)
- Legs – Hareline Medium Round Rubber (Brown)
Tools Used
- Vise – Griffin Montana Mongoose
* Items marked with an asterisk replace a material that has been discontinued since this video was filmed. We picked the closest match we carry today.
