Tim Flagler of Tightline Productions has outdone himself this time. No matter how you feel about egg flies, you simply have to applaud this ingenious method of tying the Clown Egg. By using just thread, McFlyfoam, and a special tool, Flagler sets up a production-tying system that will let you bang out a dozen of these effective patterns in no time. And you can use this technique to make egg patterns of any size and color. It will take a few minutes to get yourself set up, but once you’re ready. . . . Bravo.
Clown Egg
Hook: 1X-short scud/pupa hook (here, a Dai-Riki #135), size 14.
Thread: Fluorescent orange, 70-denier or 8/0.
Body: McFlyfoam, Clown Package.
Tools: Plunger-style hackle pliers, wire cutters, nail file, bobbin
threader.
Neat trick with the hackle pliers. Thanks Tim, good suggestion. When I saw the title I was sooooo hoping for just a little more circus calliope music in the background of this one. Can’t wait to try it out.
Just to clarify, Tim’s method is nothing new. It’s been floating around for quite a while in different variations. In fact some places even sell a “tool” (a heavy straw and bobbin threader) for it. As much as I love Tim’s videos, great tips, and simple instructions, the only thing he does different is tearing apart a set of perfectly good hackle pliers. Just do a bit of digging next time and give credit where it’s due. 😉
I need to clarify here too. No where in the video did I ever even hint that I came up with this method, it has been around for years, so much so I believe it’s virtually impossible to determine who originally came up with it. Whenever possible, I give credit where credit is due. In defense of Phil’s write-up, try reading it a bit more carefully, nowhere does he say or even infer that this is “my method”.
I did not mean to suggest that Tim invented this system, just that the video is the first time I’ve ever seen it shown so clearly.
No need to ruin a perfectly good pair of hackle pliers…just use a bic pen with the tip cut off, a lot cheaper and serves the same function.
No doubt, this method of tying a foam egg has been around for a while. I’ve been tying my “30-Second Egg” for the past couple of years and you can crank out a lot of them in a very short period of time. Instead of using hackle pliers, I stuff a hollowed-out ball point pen with the McFlyfoam. The video, though, is still really good. Tim Flagler’s productions are always filled with new ideas and tricks for the fly-tying bench. Now I know that if I ever lose my pen, I can always use my plunger-style hackle pliers (a style of pliers I became aware of by watching Tim’s videos)! Many thanks Tim!
GREAT VIDEO AND VERY INFORMATIVE
IF these other pro fly fisherman think there so awsome they should start there own successful set of fly tying videos
Another great video! Thank you and please keep them coming.
I’m new to fly tying and loved the lesson, I guess some people will bitch if they were hung with a new rope.
I have tried the straw method before. This is more refined and works much better.
If we had to credit somebody for every technique in fly tying the list at the end of most recipes would be a page long. I have learned more from Tightline Production videos in the last year or so than almost forty years of reading about and watching tying videos.
Simply the best.
As I get ready to tie my egg patterns for my upcoming Steelhead trip a couple thoughts. I’m have been us Ng this method, but I tied it off after I cut the second half, this way is betters d I am looking forward to implementing it later today. Also I used to make my clown eggs custom and I did not know about the clown package, got 2 packs and I am going to give it a try.
Lastly since we all have rough hands and working ng with materials can be frustrating I started using rubber surgical gloves last year. Makes all the difference in the world.
I’ve never seen this technique before. This afternoon I bought some clown foam, ripped apart my junky plunger-style hackle plier that I never use anyway, and tied some up. Super easy, and super successful.
One of the things I really respect about all the Tightline videos is you give credit to people whenever you can. Thanks, keep it up, and ignore the people who are getting offended for the sake of being offended. There’s a whole lot of them in this sport.
Fantastic pattern for kids Tilly, my little seven year old, can crank these out like there is no tomorrow!!