Pattern: “Old School” Hellgrammite

Hook: TMC 300 in size #4

Bead: Nymph-Head 3/16 Tungsten Bead in Mayfly Brown 

Thread: Brown or Black Monocord or Flat Nylon

Tail Area: Pheasant Tail Fibers

Pinchers: Brown or Black Goose Biots

Back & Wing Case: Brown or Black 1/4” Scud Back 

Underbody: Any dark colored medium Chenille 

Body: Black, Brown or Olive Woolly Chenille

Segments: Tied in at end of fly using your thread. 

The Legs & Silhouette are formed from the segments.

Step 1.  Place bead on hook, place hook in vise and start thread near bead and build up thread with some dubbing against the bead, positioning the eyes of the bead horizontally then continue to wrap a thread base to the bend of hook. At this point tie in a small clump of Pheasant Tail fibers about the length of the hook gap for the tail area.

Step 2.  Tie in a 2” piece of Scud Back. Tie in a 4” piece of dark colored medium chenille for buildup of underbody. Then tie in a 5” piece of woolly chenille. Wrap chenille underbody the entire length of the fly’s body up to the bead. Then wrap the woolly chenille over the top of the chenille to the same point at the bead and tie in. 

Step 3.  Brush out the woolly chenille to each side of the fly, flattening out the top portion where you will then pull your scud back, slightly stretching and bringing it over the chenilles to tie securely in place at the bead. 

Step 4.  At the bead tie in two goose biots over the top of the bead, add a little dark colored ice dubbing to cover it. Whip finish then lacquer.

Step 5.  The segments on the body of the fly are tied in with the monocord thread and individually knotted. Take note that except for a larger segment spacing of the wing pad area you will keep your segments evenly spaced. I then brush the entire body out to accentuate the segments. Eyes can be painted to desired color to compliment bead. Hard as Hull is used to cover the back and wing pad.

    I have named these patterns “Old School” because I have tied these patterns in a similar fashion for almost twenty years. I have tied and fished many patterns and have found for me that the best and most consistent flies are the ones tied with a sense of realism. These characteristic flies are easy to tie and fun to fish when the hatch isn’t on.

Tightlines’ Shawn