Fly Tying: Spey-Able Llama

This segment of Fly Tying is provided by Mossy’s Fly Shop, which has been serving Alaskans since 2010. If you’re traveling to Alaska for a Fly Fishing adventure and need fly fishing rods, reels, lines, tips, flies, hooks, boots, waders, etc., to complete your Alaskan Fly fishing adventure, see Mike and Brian at Mossy’s Fly Shop. Or Have Questions? They have answers. Email mbrown@mossysflyshop.com or call (907) 770-2666. www.mossysflyshop.com.

It is, without a doubt, one of the most popular flies for “all things that swim in Alaska” and is a Dolly Llama. We have covered this fly and how to tie it before, but something that we discuss with customers and the popularity of Spey casting is fly size, and the Llama is typically not a fan favorite for a sustained anchor cast. A big part of why the Llama fishes so well is that it’s heavy. Large cones, lead wires, and magnum rabbit strips are all wonderful attributes, but they also make this pattern super heavy when it’s wet.

In this tutorial, we will show you a few ideas for making a lighter, more Spey-friendly rendition of the llama that is still effective. Have at it!

Designed and Tied By: Brian Davenport

Photos By: Mike Brown

Material

Shank: Aqua 26mm Round Eye
Articulation Thread: Power Pro 30lb
Cone: Hareline Large Plated
Tail: Black Rabbit Zonker
Body: Black Rabbit removed from hide
Flash: Flashabou Micro Lateral Scale
Wing: White Rabbit Zonker
Collar: Black Rabbit removed from the hide.
Hook: Aqua Talon Sz 6, 4 or 2

Step 1. Slide the cone onto the shank and place your articulation thread on top. Wrap the thread a few times, then adjust the length. Secure down.

Step 2. Tie in your rabbit tail, and make the tail length approximately ½” longer than the articulation.

Step 3. Create a dubbing loop. Cut rabbit from the hide (you can use Zonker or crosscut) and place in a dubbing loop.

Step 4. Spin dubbing loop. Pick and brush out any trapped hairs.

Step 5. Wrap your rabbit body forward. Make two to three turns. Trim off excess.

Step 6: Tie in one strip of flash, doubled over, on each side of the fly.

Step 7: Tie in your rabbit wing. Cut the wing to stay inside the hook point. I like it trimmed a ½” or so shorter than the hook point.

Step 8: Create another dubbing loop and place the trimmed rabbit in the loop.

Step 9: Spin the loop. Pick and brush out any trapped hair.

Step 10: Wrap a collar tightly into the cone. Tie off and whip finish. Using the twisted hitch method, attach your tail to the hook. This allows for easy hook swapping.