Old Man-- I'm not Fred, but he might not come back to this thread because of the above post--don't know what got into THAT guy's head, but...

I'll try to answer your questions based on the little bit Fred and I have discussed about the Otis Bug through e-mail. I'm certainly not an authority on this fly, but I didn't want you to feel forgotten.

The flies Fred sent me are tied on long-shank #2 and #4 hooks, not salmon hooks, but I doubt that it makes a big difference. Chenille sizes vary with the size of hook and the intent of the tyer. If you want something to work in low, clear, water-- then smaller and dark would probably be best.

Weight is optional according to the water you fish, but the Otis Bug is designed, I think, to be fished low and slow, crawled across the bottom-- probably like a stonefly nymph. So body weight is probably a good idea. So is a beadhead, if you look at the Bugs in the attachment Fred linked to an earlier post.

The rubber legs and tails are made from living rubber, and I'm thinking that the round rubber now sold in the catalogs is what is in the picture from the Rogue Fly Fishers.

I'm guessing that the bug is an outgrowth on an old trout pattern, the Girdle Bug. This fly was tied about the same way that the Otis Bug is with legs and tails of rubber. But when I was going to college in Montana in the early '70s, the rubber was stripped from elastic waistbands on underwear, hence the "Girdle." The fly was intended to imitate a stonefly nymph, although imitate is a pretty strong word. The chenille on that pattern was a black-and-yellow variegated.

Well I'm going to have to go out and pick up more junk. I have chenille coming out of my ears so just a little bit more won't hurt. I will try and tie them up on just something smaller as if I was to do it like you said I would have to buy hooks also. And as for legs,would rubber bands work. I always look for cheaper ways to do things.

Hey, Old Man-- You probably don't need to buy anything since I believe you also tie for steelhead, right? My gut feeling is that you'd be okay with those hooks, and if they're too big, you might just tie them with smaller bodies.

I don't think rubber bands would work as well as living rubber because the material is too thick and wouldn't move as well. You could always strip the elastic out of an old pair of shorts, ala the Girdle Bug. I think they still use the fine, white stuff. Haven't done it in a while, so I couldn't say. And then if you have some colored felt tips, you could have just about any color you'd want.

But here again, I'm not the expert.

Good luck,

Keith

Keith, as 'they' say on the radio, ...

"You're 5 by 5."
fae

The way that you are talking about this fly is that it sounds a little like the b**** creek nymph. I hope that they don't block out the first part of the fly name as if they did I don't think that anybody would know what I'm talking about. They have white legs.

To Keith first: I appreciate your comments above; no clue as to where the 'above post' was coming from, go going to ... And I'd rather not.

"OM" I think you may be very close to the origination of this Rogue pattern. I've seen the parallel drawn before, suspect the ***** Creek Nymph may have been the orig. starting point for the Otis Bug.

Vis a vis the white legs idea this patten done in straight blach Chen. with white rubber legs has been quite successful with Fall run Kings on the Rogue. At least for me anyway.

Interesting to be fishing for '3# summer runs, and hook 30# kings on a 7wt spey rod. Most of the action was had the spey rod flat to the water and Mr. King To You in close to total command of the situation.

"A good thing" and a lot of fun to see how it would turn out in the end. A beach release, or a "long range release." Some of both.
fae

Well Fred,went out and got some of the Chenille and relized that I already have that new age stuff but in pink and purple,and now in brown and black and gold fleck. Tied one up from just looking at picture. Boy talk about a bad memory. Just came in to print them up so I have something to look at. I'm gonna tie them up on a size 6 2x long, round bend,straight-eye,curved shank,bronze. Bead head nymph hook. And with my tying wish me luck. <img border="0" alt="[wall]" title="" src="graemlins/wall.gif" />

Jim, I think you'll find your colour choices are just fine (don't forget straight black, with black rubber legs, BH, etc. is one of the most effective combinations). One suggestion for your consideration. Hook size is excellent but for winter/fast water/dry line work "we" usually run a layer or two of .015 or .02 lead as an under body. Forgot to add: If you look at the photo above you'll note one of the flys uses red thread, the other black. The red thread is a typical way of indicating a wted body. Straight black, no lead wire.

If you're swinging a tip probably not necessary to also wt. the hook.
fae

I did a .020 wrap most of the way on the shank and after I tied the first one from memory and the other two from the picture. The second two I tied look just like the picture. Now if the weather would just give us a break,I would like to try them out. Rain,rain,rain. And now the rivers are going back up again. What's a person to do?

Anybody have a recipe for the Sauk River Grub or what book it's in?

Matt

Sauk River Grub:
http://www.angelfire.com/wa/salmonid/fly495.html

Very cool web site; not seen that before. Off to 'fav. places' to see what other goodies they have to offer.

Thanks! for the info.
fae