Creating the New Fly
I had a great platform of dry flies to work with, so I turned to my own patterns to begin the design process. I initially used a monofilament joint to create the articulated movement, and I tried various shuck materials. I experimented with different colors of glass beads and wire ribs to keep the trailing shuck in the water, and while they worked well, the ostrich herl breathes well and creates a natural look and feel; when wet, the material gives the shuck just enough weight to keep it beneath the surface without pulling the fly down. And I still love a multicolored wing post for enhanced visibility, but a foam post is ideal for the extended floating time and the ability to pop it along the surface.
I use Dingle-berries to match Hexegenia, drakes, stoneflies, and Hendrickson hatches. Although it is rare that I will fish a single fly, the Dingle-berry allows me to fish multiple flies and represent multiple stages in a new way. Try fishing the Dingle-berry using a 9-foot-long, size 4X leader to reduce twisting when c to reduce casting, but you can go lighter and longer if you are casting over more wary fish. I ordinarily will not use a dropper fly when fishing the Dingle-berry, but if you do need a dropper, tie it to the long tag coming per tie it to the long tag coming from a blood knot, or tie a small piece of monofilament to the hook eye; do not tie the mono to the hook bend or do anything that will interfere with the natural movement of the Dingle-berry’s trailing shuck. You can also adapt the Dingle-berry to imitate smaller insects; I have tied this pattern as small as a size 20 Blue-Winged Olive.
Starting the Front Section
Completing the Dingle-berry
Vince Wilcox operates Wiley’s Flies, in Rainbow Lake, New York.