Fly Tying Tutorial: Egan's Iron Lotus by Fly Fish Food

Another effective nymph pattern from Fly Fish Food's Lance Egan.
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[@curtislloyd5895]

This is a rock solid fly. I have caught countless fish on it. In the spring I use a little bit darker dubbing like a Canadian olive or olive gold and I use black wire. The lighter colors work better for me in the fall. Tight lines and see you out there. Remember to respect each other on the river. Too many folks just walking in on top of other people. Perhaps the shops could start educating people on etiquette and using their platforms to teach more than just flies.

[@damarihenrik7285]

You prolly dont care but does any of you know of a tool to log back into an Instagram account..? I was dumb forgot my login password. I love any tips you can offer me.

[@clarkmilan9759]

@Damari Henrik Instablaster :)

[@damarihenrik7285]

@Clark Milan thanks for your reply. I found the site on google and Im in the hacking process atm. I see it takes quite some time so I will get back to you later with my results.

[@damarihenrik7285]

@Clark Milan It worked and I actually got access to my account again. I'm so happy! Thank you so much you really help me out :D

[@clarkmilan9759]

@Damari Henrik you are welcome xD

[@johnperusek4]

John Perusek Thanks to you and Cheech my interest in fly tying has been rekindled.

[@robertclay5447]

Thanks Lance -- another great pattern and video. If you wanted a PMD version, what materials would you change?

[@stevethistle7974]

Good pattern and explanation of how to tie this. But should we not be using something instead of lead for the environment?

[@decoydavesmith]

Mind Bottling! Thank you!

[@theheronknowsprimewater1035]

Have you done a direct test of with and without the red collar? Is that something you actually keep a record of? I always want to do tests like that but I'm too lazy ...

[@curtislloyd5895]

I fish with two other very experienced fisherman we have indeed tried this exact fly with and without a red collar. We all three fished the same 100 yards of river and decided to switch between the red collar and without. We all caught more fish with red collar. We have also experimented with switching tag flies to point flies. I'd write more but the basic answer is yes red matters.

[@HP-jm3zb]

Hi Lance, tip, put the end tag of the wire into the bead and then wind and it will hold better, will only have to helicopter one end ! Works great, nice tie by the way

[@jimslade]

Lance I’d like to know what you think about using white brassie wire covered with UV like your thread frenchie?

[@bobbertheclown2907]

I love the simplicity of your flies Lance. very nice, thanks again. I I use a regular bead with this pattern would it make big difference?

[@repsrek]

If it's a jig hook, why do you put the wing case on the top of the nymph ? In the water, your wing case will be under the fly ...

[@FlyFishFood]

With the amount that the fly tumbles in the current, it will still perform just fine. The fish don't seem to mind.

[@Lanceeganflyfishing]

The way a jig hook rides in the water causes the wingcase to be shown to the fish when tied in this ☝️way. Placing the wingcase on the other side of the hook would hide it from the trout in the drift. That said, it likely does not matter since most flies fish well without a wingcase at all. Place the wingcase wherever it gives you the most confidence. It won’t matter to the fish.

[@spikeconley]

My question as well repsrek. And with respect, this is the kind of answer that kind of confuses and frustrates us fly fishers that don't get to tie and fish as often as the pros, so we have to get our experience from videos instead of real life. It was George Daniel who wrote somewhere that if you're going to tie wing cases on jig style flies, then at least tie them on the right side of the hook (i.e. on the bottom as this fly is tied). So I think we have some disagreement amongst the pros as well. To wit: if it doesn't matter if a fly has a wingcase at all, and since you're a professional fly tyer and fisherman and need to make the most efficient use of your fly tying time, then why even include it in the pattern?

[@Lanceeganflyfishing]

repsrek it won’t let me upload a picture or I’d show you, but if you tie tippet to a jigged fly you’ll see that the wingcase will be visible to the fish in the position shown in the video above. Tying the wingcase on the opposite side would hide it from the fish.

[@steveyates1136]

Easy enough to put a wing case on both sides if you thought it would improve the pattern.

[@treypeltier44]

Great fly but could help but notice that due to it being a jig hook that would normally ride hook up you have the wing case on the wrong side

[@FlyFishFood]

kind of. These perdigon style flies are historically tied like that, and they are top producers.

[@phoult37]

If I don't have the resin and light, can I just leave it as is? Or is there a substitute product to put over the body? Sally Hansens, for example?

[@Lanceeganflyfishing]

Pat uv resins are far more efficient but you can certainly do a few coats of sally hansens.

[@YellowstoneCountryFlyFishing]

Just use brush-on super glue. Trim out at least half the bristles in the brush with an old pair of scissors.

[@russellogden8071]

You use the peacock dubbing I only have the bronze peacock or should I just use my hair line peacock ice dub

[@jeffhanna763]

No matter what I do, when I apply the uv resin the white ribbing disappears. Using the same thread shown in the video; white uni and olive utc. Advice?

[@FlyFishFood]

Jeff Hanna it’s supposed to go kind of translucent. If it’s too much of an issue maybe try slightly twisting the thread before wrapping forward.

[@glenndotter5065]

I always get a kick out of references to European Nymphing. When I started flyfishing 63 years ago in the Pocono Mtns., I was taught the high sticking technique to control the flies and we didnt even have strike indicators.

[@ryantherock7664]

What is the difference between the hanak H400B & H470B hook?

[@patricksmith7839]

Great pattern

[@WaterDr]

Any suggestions for keeping the thread on top of the resin from sliding down the fly. The dubbing keeps slipping down and doesn’t seem durable

[@fst96max]

That's the same issue I have. Im trying to tie em on 18s and try to minimize bulk as much as I can up by the head. But almost every time I tie my red thread in it starts slipping down the body after I tie the wing case in. Have the same problem with thread fenchies

[@KillerRock616]

I noticed Lance didn’t finish with any head cement or resin treatments on the hotspot or the flashback. Is that an oversight, considered unnecessary, or part of the fly design?

[@Waty8413]

Is it just me or does the fly look better in the video than it did in the thumbnail? Kinda just mostly a bead on a hook in the thumbnail.... ...not that those don't catch fish.

[@rumpalikeijo]

No it`s not just you :)

[@abefrohman1759]

Kevin Kresowaty The lighting was just dim in the thumbnail.

[@FlyFishFood]

Sometimes it's hard to get a good pic on a white background. Also, lots of the best flies are very simple.

[@abefrohman1759]

It was fine to me buddy. I appreciate you sharing with us.

[@hencape]

Why is my white thread ribbing disappearing after I put UV on it? I'm using the same UTC 6/0 white thread. Ideas?

[@davebradley8116]

I use small silver wire.

[@hencape]

@@davebradley8116 Thanks, Dave. I've gone to it and I think it looks better.

[@devinbrita3770]

Ive been starting to do a little more research on European style nymphing and wanted to get your thoughts on it. What is the benefit in your opinion? I live near a lot of tailwaters in Colorado, and we just stick with the indicator, split shots, and size 20 and smaller flies. These flies seem to big to match any kind of BWO or midge patterns (so I think). So if you could get back to me and let me know what it is that is so successful about this style of nymphing, especially since it seems to be in so many competitive fly tournaments, I would really appreciate your feed back. Thanks again and nice fly, can’t wait to start tying some french style nymphs!

[@davidstonko5979]

he has an entire video explaining this called modern nymphing. you can also go read devon olsens blog who explains in great detail why it is effective.

[@Lanceeganflyfishing]

As mentioned, check out the video Modern Nymphing. It will answer most of not all of your questions. In a nutshell, you don’t have to fish as small as you think, and/or, you can fish size 18-22 nymphs in a euro rig. Try it out, you’ll like it.

[@randymenk5053]

You'll catch more and bigger fish, feel every take. Sight fishing dries it isnt

[@richs8423]

Honestly, the style is based on the competitive regulations that competitors (and champions like Lance) are required to follow. Your set up, while effective, does not follow those regs. I’ve found that I have more control and “feel” on knowing where the fly is and where I want it to be in regards to subsurface placement. I hope that helps.

[@anablakp3200]

Lead-free wire to help protect the environment if, by chance, you should lose your fly in the water. Lead wire should be banned altogether.