The Other Hot Spot

[Nick Naclerio]

I've been using this style of fly for a year now and they work! I'd like to take credit for the idea but wet flies use something similar and I'm sure I saw it on a nymph somewhere and stole the idea.

I use holographic tinsel in all colors as an underbody and leave some showing at the tail of the fly. The tinsel really reflecs light well and you can use metallic colors that threads just don't come in.


I just did a simple nymph here for the picture but this can apply to just about any fly.

[Nick Naclerio]

Same fly different shot.
This fly uses fuchsia UTC holo tinsel

[John Dunn]

                        I agree Nick

[Dejon Hamann]

Nice tip Nick!  The holo tinsel probably reflects a wider spectrum of light too. 

[Chris Puchniak]

Both those patterns look cool.  A nice reflective/flourescent tag like that might be a hot pants version as opposed to a hot spot! 

I know a tag like that is very useful in buzzer/chironomid patterns, especially in red, to represent the build up of hemoglobin that frequently develops at the butt tip (and is quite prominent in some species).  Just like a wingpad...

[John Killinger]

I tried that before but seems like when you use brightly colored thread, stands out more, don't know.  I tried it with blue flashabou but never really did a good field test.

Does look good.

[Nick Naclerio]

The pictures don't come close to giving the full affect. The tinsel shines way more than thread. Like everything else though I wouldn't say its more affective than a thread hot spot just different. I actually find there are days when no hot spot out does hot spot flies, I usually tie patterns with and without.

[Eugene Shuler]

I've been using krystal flash for my hot spots, I twist up five to six strands and make a ball out of it. I also use UV ice dub. But I really like the look of the holo tinsel in your photos, cool stuff. I'll try it sometime soon. Thanks for posting it.