Alen's Cow Killer
Fly of the Month 05.24 Terrestrials - Bees & Wasps
Some fly fishing anglers believe that Bees and Wasps are a not source of food for fish because they can inflict pain with their stinger when eaten. As an amateur at fly fishing the myth does seem believable until that day a trout is observed taking in yellow jackets flying too close to the surface from a nest in an overhanging bank. Fish will eat any insects that are available and easy for the taking.
Terrestrials are not typically easy for the taking because they are on land and must fall prey to the water in some fashion. Flying too close is the accident waiting to happen. Wind and rain are more likely the conditions that knock a terrestrial of a leaf or limb or out of the air and into the water. A windy day or a summer shower often provides interesting new bugs in the water for the fish to eat. Opportunities are only passed up when there is even better food available.
Bees typically have a bulky body and tend to be slow flying and more often hovering as compared to wasps. The fly pattern designs for both are similar with a fuzzy, stubbier, fatter abdomen to imitate a bee and a more smooth, elongated, pointed abdomen to imitate a wasp. Both bees and wasp come in a variety of sizes and colors depending on species. Both may be imitated using an ant-like body, a delta-style wing and for many species, striped bodies of the appropriate colors.
The likely species of bees found around streams include the bumble bee and carpenter bee which are larger with wide black and yellow bands, the honey bee which is smaller with brown and yellow bands. The velvet ant or cow killer is actually a wingless wasp but has a fuzzy red body with black striped edges. The likely species of wasps found around streams include the velvet ant, the cicada killer or cicada hawk which is very large with black and yellow stripes, the bald-faced hornet or heart-faced hornet which has a white face with black and white stripes, the mud dauber or pipe organ wasps which are very slender and virtually black all over, the paper wasp which is very slender with brown and white stripes and the yellow jacket which has black and yellow stripes.
Making the decision to tie on a bee or wasp fly pattern should be triggered by the appearance of one or more bees or wasps floating down the stream or flying close the the water surface around overhanging banks or vegetation. However, there are times during windy or rainy conditions that are just as likely to warrant an experiment with a bee or wasp fly pattern.
Fly of the Month 05.24 Terrestrials - Bees & Wasps
We are providing all the fly tying recipes for Alen’s series of bees and wasps. However, only one of the bee and one of the wasp fly patterns will be presented with a photo and fly tying directions.
Alen's Cow Killer
Hook: TMC 100, Mustad 94840 or equivalent Dry
Size: 10
Thread: 6/0 Black or dark brown or chocolate
Underbody: Tying thread
Body: Red dubbing w/ tying thread bands
Hackle: Black or dark brown, in center joint
The velvet ant or "cow killer" is a wingless wasp that looks
like an ant but will sting like a wasp if handled.
Originated by Alen D Baker
Reference: Southern Appalachian
Alen's Cicada Killer
Hook: Dry, 2xL
Size: 8
Thread: Orange
Abdomen: Alternate black, orange and yellow floss, pointed
Wing: Bleached elk hair, tied delta-style
Thorax: Brown dubbing
Legs: Peacock herl, clipped
Head: Black mono, embedded in dubbing
Finish: Body coated with Softex or UV Resin
Originated by Alen D Baker
Reference: Southern Appalachian
Alen's Carpenter Bee
Hook: Dry, 1xL
Size: 12
Thread: 6/0 Black
Abdomen: Alternate black and yellow Chenille, bulky
Wing: Bleached elk hair, tied delta-style
Thorax: Black dubbing and black ostrich herl
Legs: Peacock herl, clipped
Head: Black mono, embedded in dubbing
Very similar to a Bumble Bee in appearance.
Originated by Alen D Baker
Reference: Southern Appalachian
Alen's Honey Bee
Hook: Dry 1xL
Size: 14
Thread: 6/0 Brown
Abdomen: Alternate brown and yellow floss, bulky, pointed
Wing: Elk hair, tied delta-style
Thorax: Brown dubbing and brown ostrich herl
Legs: Peacock herl, clipped
Head: Black mono, embedded in brown dubbing
Finish: Body coated with Softex or UV Resin
Sighter: Yellow poly tuft, tied behind & top of head
Originated by Alen D Baker
Reference: Southern Appalachian
Alen's Bald--Faced Hornet
Hook: Dry, 1xL
Size: 12
Thread: 6/0 Black
Abdomen: Alternate black and white floss, bulky, pointed
Wing: Bleached elk hair, tied delta-style
Thorax: Black dubbing and black ostrich herl
Legs: Peacock herl, clipped
Head: Black mono, embedded in yellow dubbing
Finish: Body coated with Softex or UV Resin
Alias Heart-Faced Hornet.
Originated by Alen D Baker
Reference: Southern Appalachian
Alen's Mud Dauber
Hook: Dry, 1xL
Size: 12
Thread: 6/0 Black
Abdomen: Alternate black orange and yellow floss, pointed
Wing: Black elk hair, tied delta-style
Thorax: Black dubbing and black ostrich herl
Legs: Peacock herl, clipped
Head: Black mono, embedded in dubbing
Finish: Body coated with Softex or UV Resin
Sighter: Yellow poly tuft, tied behind & top of head
Originated by Alen D Baker
Reference: Southern Appalachian
Alen's Waste Paper Wasp
Hook: Dry, 1xL
Size: 12
Thread: 6/0 Brown
Abdomen: Alternate brown and yellow floss, pointed
Wing: Elk hair, tied delta-style
Thorax: Yellow dubbing and brown ostrich herl
Legs: Peacock herl, clipped
Head: Black mono, embedded in brown dubbing
Finish: Body coated with Softex or UV Resin
Sighter: Yellow poly tuft, tied behind & top of head
Originated by Alen D Baker
Reference: Southern Appalachian
Alen's Full Metal Yellow Jacket
Hook: Dry
Size: 14
Thread: 6/0 Black
Abdomen: Alternate black and yellow floss, pointed
Wing: Elk hair, tied delta-style
Thorax: Yellow dubbing and black ostrich herl
Legs: Peacock herl, clipped
Head: Black mono, embedded in black dubbing
Finish: Body coated with Softex or UV Resin
Sighter: Yellow poly tuft, tied behind & top of head
Originated by Alen D Baker
Reference: Southern Appalachian
Directions:
Cow Killer
Hook: TMC 100, Mustad 94840 or equivalent Dry
Size: 10
Thread: 6/0 Black or dark brown or chocolate
Underbody: Tying thread
Body: Red dubbing w/ tying thread bands
Hackle: Black or dark brown, in center joint
Some fly fishing anglers believe that Bees and Wasps are a not source of food for fish because they can inflict pain with their stinger when eaten. As an amateur at fly fishing the myth does seem believable until that day a trout is observed taking in yellow jackets flying too close to the surface from a nest in an overhanging bank. Fish will eat any insects that are available and easy for the taking.
Terrestrials are not typically easy for the taking because they are on land and must fall prey to the water in some fashion. Flying too close is the accident waiting to happen. Wind and rain are more likely the conditions that knock a terrestrial of a leaf or limb or out of the air and into the water. A windy day or a summer shower often provides interesting new bugs in the water for the fish to eat. Opportunities are only passed up when there is even better food available.
Bees typically have a bulky body and tend to be slow flying and more often hovering as compared to wasps. The fly pattern designs for both are similar with a fuzzy, stubbier, fatter abdomen to imitate a bee and a more smooth, elongated, pointed abdomen to imitate a wasp. Both bees and wasp come in a variety of sizes and colors depending on species. Both may be imitated using an ant-like body, a delta-style wing and for many species, striped bodies of the appropriate colors.
The likely species of bees found around streams include the bumble bee and carpenter bee which are larger with wide black and yellow bands, the honey bee which is smaller with brown and yellow bands. The velvet ant or cow killer is actually a wingless wasp but has a fuzzy red body with black striped edges. The likely species of wasps found around streams include the velvet ant, the cicada killer or cicada hawk which is very large with black and yellow stripes, the bald-faced hornet or heart-faced hornet which has a white face with black and white stripes, the mud dauber or pipe organ wasps which are very slender and virtually black all over, the paper wasp which is very slender with brown and white stripes and the yellow jacket which has black and yellow stripes.
Making the decision to tie on a bee or wasp fly pattern should be triggered by the appearance of one or more bees or wasps floating down the stream or flying close the the water surface around overhanging banks or vegetation. However, there are times during windy or rainy conditions that are just as likely to warrant an experiment with a bee or wasp fly pattern.
Fly of the Month 05.24 Terrestrials - Bees & Wasps
We are providing all the fly tying recipes for Alen’s series of bees and wasps. However, only one of the bee and one of the wasp fly patterns will be presented with a photo and fly tying directions.
Alen's Cow Killer
Hook: TMC 100, Mustad 94840 or equivalent Dry
Size: 10
Thread: 6/0 Black or dark brown or chocolate
Underbody: Tying thread
Body: Red dubbing w/ tying thread bands
Hackle: Black or dark brown, in center joint
The velvet ant or "cow killer" is a wingless wasp that looks
like an ant but will sting like a wasp if handled.
Originated by Alen D Baker
Reference: Southern Appalachian
Alen's Cicada Killer
Hook: Dry, 2xL
Size: 8
Thread: Orange
Abdomen: Alternate black, orange and yellow floss, pointed
Wing: Bleached elk hair, tied delta-style
Thorax: Brown dubbing
Legs: Peacock herl, clipped
Head: Black mono, embedded in dubbing
Finish: Body coated with Softex or UV Resin
Originated by Alen D Baker
Reference: Southern Appalachian
Alen's Carpenter Bee
Hook: Dry, 1xL
Size: 12
Thread: 6/0 Black
Abdomen: Alternate black and yellow Chenille, bulky
Wing: Bleached elk hair, tied delta-style
Thorax: Black dubbing and black ostrich herl
Legs: Peacock herl, clipped
Head: Black mono, embedded in dubbing
Very similar to a Bumble Bee in appearance.
Originated by Alen D Baker
Reference: Southern Appalachian
Alen's Honey Bee
Hook: Dry 1xL
Size: 14
Thread: 6/0 Brown
Abdomen: Alternate brown and yellow floss, bulky, pointed
Wing: Elk hair, tied delta-style
Thorax: Brown dubbing and brown ostrich herl
Legs: Peacock herl, clipped
Head: Black mono, embedded in brown dubbing
Finish: Body coated with Softex or UV Resin
Sighter: Yellow poly tuft, tied behind & top of head
Originated by Alen D Baker
Reference: Southern Appalachian
Alen's Bald--Faced Hornet
Hook: Dry, 1xL
Size: 12
Thread: 6/0 Black
Abdomen: Alternate black and white floss, bulky, pointed
Wing: Bleached elk hair, tied delta-style
Thorax: Black dubbing and black ostrich herl
Legs: Peacock herl, clipped
Head: Black mono, embedded in yellow dubbing
Finish: Body coated with Softex or UV Resin
Alias Heart-Faced Hornet.
Originated by Alen D Baker
Reference: Southern Appalachian
Alen's Mud Dauber
Hook: Dry, 1xL
Size: 12
Thread: 6/0 Black
Abdomen: Alternate black orange and yellow floss, pointed
Wing: Black elk hair, tied delta-style
Thorax: Black dubbing and black ostrich herl
Legs: Peacock herl, clipped
Head: Black mono, embedded in dubbing
Finish: Body coated with Softex or UV Resin
Sighter: Yellow poly tuft, tied behind & top of head
Originated by Alen D Baker
Reference: Southern Appalachian
Alen's Waste Paper Wasp
Hook: Dry, 1xL
Size: 12
Thread: 6/0 Brown
Abdomen: Alternate brown and yellow floss, pointed
Wing: Elk hair, tied delta-style
Thorax: Yellow dubbing and brown ostrich herl
Legs: Peacock herl, clipped
Head: Black mono, embedded in brown dubbing
Finish: Body coated with Softex or UV Resin
Sighter: Yellow poly tuft, tied behind & top of head
Originated by Alen D Baker
Reference: Southern Appalachian
Alen's Full Metal Yellow Jacket
Hook: Dry
Size: 14
Thread: 6/0 Black
Abdomen: Alternate black and yellow floss, pointed
Wing: Elk hair, tied delta-style
Thorax: Yellow dubbing and black ostrich herl
Legs: Peacock herl, clipped
Head: Black mono, embedded in black dubbing
Finish: Body coated with Softex or UV Resin
Sighter: Yellow poly tuft, tied behind & top of head
Originated by Alen D Baker
Reference: Southern Appalachian
Directions:
Cow Killer
Hook: TMC 100, Mustad 94840 or equivalent Dry
Size: 10
Thread: 6/0 Black or dark brown or chocolate
Underbody: Tying thread
Body: Red dubbing w/ tying thread bands
Hackle: Black or dark brown, in center joint
- Debarb and mount the hook. Add thread one third back of the eye and advance to the hook bend. Let the bobbin hang.
- Tie on a four inch piece of black 6/0 Uni thread at the bend and move out of the way to begin the abdomen construction
- Dub tightly with red dubbing and begin forming an abdomen of dubbing. Make the dub tight and use multiple dub applications to achieve the bulk needed. Before completing the abdomen, advance the black thread to the one third mark of the abdomen.
- Complete building the abdomen with dubbing and once the size is satisfactory make three turns of the black thread, one on top of the other, to form the stripe. Advance the black thread to the front one third of the abdomen and make another black stripe. Tie off the black thread with a three turn whip finish and trim the waste. Let the bobbin hang
- Select a Black rooster hackle, sized to the one and one half the hook gape. Strip a quarter inch of barbs and tie in immediately in front of the abdomen. Wind the rooster in tight touching turns for about four turns. Trap the hackle stem against the hook and secure with several turns of thread. Trim any waste and let the bobbin hang.
- Repeat the dubbing process of the abdomen to form the thorax in a smaller size. Once the thorax is completed make a head and finish with several whips.
- Apply head cement to the head if desired.