Early in the season, when Hendricksons are in the water, a size 16 WD-40 has done well for me at multiple rivers. This fly did very well for me during a recent outing.

I usually make the thorax with squirrel for a spiky look and add a touch of Krystal Flash on top of the wingpad, too.

Krystal Flash has greatly increased take rates for me. I think the material suggests an air bubble. I’ve used different colors, but pearl has been best.

Now, though, I am making the thoraxes from CDC fibers. I’ve been using the tips to make some new size 30 midge flies and have a bunch of leftover feathers. So, a variant.

Here is the materials list, with links:

• Hook: Barbless Czech Nymph hook in black nickel, size 16
• Body: UTC, 70 denier, olive. I use a black Sharpie to color the thread and rib the fly.
• Tail: Coq de Leon
• Wingpad: Turkey tail and, above that, two strands of pearl Krystal Flash
• Thorax: I used various colors of CDC fibers, mostly in dark dun. To add the thorax, rotate the tying thread counter-clockwise to flatten it, split the thread, add wax, insert the CDC fibers, and, then, rotate the thread clockwise to cord it all up