Video: How to Tie a Drop-Bead Red Dart

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Lance Egan is a well-known competition angler and fly tier from Utah. His well-known patterns include the Frenchie, the Rainbow Warrior, and the Red Dart. A couple years ago, Tim Flagler of Tightline Productions showed us how to tie the Red Dart, and here he features a drop-bead version of that pattern. You might notice that all of these patterns are designed to sink quickly into a trout’s strike zone, which Lance feels is an important feature. Since he is a three-time national fly-fishing champion and a bronze medalist at the world championships, we oughta take his word for it.

In this week’s great tying video, Tim demonstrates a cool way to create beadhead patterns using a drop bead, which causes a pattern to ride hook-point-up in the water. As usual, Tim has figured out the best way to attach and secure the drop bead. The result looks like a go-to searching pattern you’ll use a lot.

         Drop-Bead Red Dart
          Hook:
  2X-short black-nickel jig hook (here, a Fulling Mill 5125), size 18.
          Bead:  Gold tungsten drop bead, 1/8-inch.
          Thread: Red, 6/0 or 70-denier.
          Adhesive #1: Superglue (here, Fly Tyers Z-Ment).
          Tail: Fluorescent pink Faux Bucktail, stacked.
          Abdomen: Black Sparkle Braid, midge.
          Thorax: Pink UV Ice Dub.
          Collar: Brown CDC.
          Hot spot: Tying thread.
          Adhesive #2: Head cement (here, Sally Hansen Hard-As-Nails).
          Tools: Plunger-style hackle pliers, whip finish.

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