"Frank Reid" moc.deepselbac@diersicnarf wrote in message
...
Okay, also called the coffin fly. Big assed bug, and therein lies the
problem. Who uses what for the extended body?
Frank Reid

Hi Frank,
Extended bodies? Okay. I am going to fly tying. I've used deer, mono
(with a dubbing), running mono line, foam, chenille, New Dub, the reversed
feather concept, etc. I glanced through my fly boxes.
It appears I only carry one extended pattern anymore. . .that is an adult
damsel, in blue, olive and tan.
I do have a few "big" patterns for green drakes that I tie just on a long
shank hook, as Stan mentioned.
I did put into production a custom deer hair extended pattern a few years
ago where I tied the extended part of the body on a needle, then sorta
threaded it on a hook, like a worm, then tied the rest of the fly.
Anymore I guess I would go with foam, for a little bit more of durability.
Deer and feathers for an extended body work well, but even when I put
flexament, or goop, or other stuff on them, they didn't last as long as
foam.
In another thread some time ago, I mentioned a guy, Don Puterbaugh. (sp?)
He uses just a small piece of foam for a caddis pattern, giving a bit of
extension before the front part of the fly. Deadly pattern on the Arkansas
River here. He had a contract with Umpqua for a while, but I just noticed
the pattern in a Gander Mountain store here in the Denver area a day or so
ago. .
Don't think just Drakes, but other patterns as well.
Oh . . . I also use something I call micro chenille to do a simple mayfly
pattern. Extended body, and hackle. That is it. I do it in size 16 and
smaller. (normally 18-22) Can add a bit of dubbing if you wish. Caught
more than few fish. (Shhh . . . don't tell anybody)

So . . .for a coffin fly . . . spinner type . . .extended body . . .I would
probably use foam . . .wings of your choice. Foam color of your choice with
markers to color.
For durability, I'd have to go with Stan, and go with a long shanked mayfly
something.
Still, the best reference I have seen for extended fly flies is the book
"The Fly Tier's Benchside Reference". I just glanced at it. (dang . .
..that is the easy way . . . I had to do it the hard way . . . I don't
recommend the hard way)
BestWishes,
DaveMohnsen
Denver