Fly Tying: The Red Hot
The Red Hot pattern is a simple but highly productive pattern on the San Juan River. The annelids that float down this river are a constant food source for the big trout that swim in its waters. On my last trip to the San Juan, I found that a double nymph rig was a great way to fish this pattern.
Step 1
Finding beads that are small enough to fit on a size 22 or 24 hook can be a little bit of a trick. Normally, I would head to the craft store, but even their smallest glass beads are too big for these small hooks. I found these Killer Caddis Beads at Cabela’s and they seem work just fine.
Step 2: Tie on thread. I tend to use UTC 70 Ultra Thread on these small flies.
I really like this midge size vinyl rib.
Step 3: Tie in vinyl rib.
Step 4: The vinyl rib as two sides: a flat and a rounded edge. I like to tie the Red Hot with the rounded edge up as it gives it a more segmented and clean look, but I have seen it tied both ways. Tie rib forward, secure, and whip finish.
A great tailwater fly that is quick and easy to tie. (Note: I think I can easily talk myself into a macro lens…)
The Red Hot is a part of the San Juan Fly collection now available in the Arizona Wanderings Shop.
Sign up to receive email updates from Arizona Wanderings
Ben, Sounds like the next time you get a break from school. The Juan is calling you.
Tell me about it Gary. Wish I could just retire and start fishing for a living…
My that’s a nice looking fly and seems perfect for the Juan. I hope to get there next year, so I’ll be tying some of these if I can find the beads.
Very cool. Interesting piece of water out there with some big old rainbows. Sure is fun to fish. Keep me posted on how it goes.
Ben
That would also slay them up at Becker!
A couple of questions about this great looking fly. Do you coat it with anything (I.E sally hansen’s etc…)?
Also, what style of hook do you use? I was wondering, what size hook do you use in the pictures?
Colton,
Thanks so much for your email. I dont coat these bugs with anything although you surely could. That could actually keep these bugs almost bullet proof if you decided to add something to them. In the picture I am using a size 20 1x long curved hook. I buy them from Allen Fly Fishing. The hook gap is a bit small but I really like the way they look and they fish great. Hope that helps.
Ben