This is Dan Ditzler’s Mylar Jelly Belly.  I know that he uses this fly for white bass but it should be a great fly for any fish.  I had a little problem when tying this fly with the mylar belly.  Sometimes it looked like Dan’s and other times it did not.  So I used some Metallic Cord and built up the body before the Mylar was added.  See below.  It changed the look a little and I guess I will refer to it as Dan’s Mylar Jelly Belly Variant.

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Materials:

  1. Hook: Tiemco TMC5263 or TMC200R
  2. Hook Size: 8, 10
  3. Head: Brass Bead – Black or Gun metal – 3.2mm, 4.0mm
  4. Tail: White Zonker (Rabbit) strip
  5. Thread: UNI-Thread 8/0 White and Red
  6. Body: Mylar tubing
  7. Optional: Weed Guard or Flashabou

Tying Instructions:

  1. Debar Hook (Dan uses #80) and put on a Brass Bead (Dan uses1/8” or 3.2mm)
  2. Put down a white thread base on the hook to the barb
  3. Tie in a weed guard (optional)
  4. Cut approximately 3/16” of white zonker strip and tie it on the hook.
  5. Bring thread to the back of the zonker strip
  6. Tie in Flashabou (optional)
  7. Slide the Mylar over the bead and onto the shank of the hook, over the zonker to the thread
  8. Wrap a few turns on to the Mylar and whip finish, cut the thread
  9. Apply head cement to the thread (Dan uses hard as nails)
  10. At the bead, push the mylar back to form a belly and tie down with red thread.
  11. Bring the weed guard or guards forward and tie down with the red thread (optional)
  12. Build up the thread to almost the diameter of the bead.
  13. Whip finish
  14. Apply head cement (optional UV)

Fishing instructions: Use a sinking leader or line and strip back

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