Ric's right in saying that a 'yarn ball' looks like a glo-bug, only the yarn balls (flies) we used were customised on the river using four or five 1" lengths of yarn slipped under an egg loop on a number 1, 2 or 4 Gamakatsu Octopus or equivalent Eagle Claw Lazersharp (a lot cheaper and tend to straighten out on snags, meaning you lose less gear but the weaker/ duller hook causes more heart palpitations when a big'un climbs on). (One guide made the point that he was anti-Gamakatsu because it is a stainless steel hook and, therefore, doesn't rust out as readily as a non-stainless hook.)

The dry yarn was trimmed back pretty savagely using 'braid blades' or some other form of ultra-sharp scissors. Then the lead was added to the rig and the set-up wetted down by whacking the yarn fly into the water several times. Before fishing the fly was retrieved for a final sculpting, with particular attention paid to trimming any 'tails' off the yarn so it was perfectly spherical.

A lot of work, I'll admit, when you can buy a commercial glo bug in roughly the same size for 40 cents. However, the guides are convinced 4-5 different colors make a difference (and they mix up the colors depending on water height, color, sunlight and temp). Who are we to argue with the locals even if some of what they do seems like Voodoo if the result is more hook-ups?

[This message has been edited by Snagly (edited 05-09-99).]

[This message has been edited by Snagly (edited 05-09-99).]