The Ugly Fly

By: Paco Sorias and Ed Gallop

The Ugly Fly is not a specific fly pattern and, in my opinion, not "ugly" as the name implies.  It is a method of applying hackle to a fly that sounds like it would be ugly.  It involves trimming oversized hackle to hook size (for blunt ends), cutting away the underside into an inverted "V" shape (rest realistic in surface film), and it only has one wing (also realistic above water).  Yes... That sounds ugly, but ugly is only in the eyes of the beholder.  Trout love the Ugly Fly's realistic appearance and that is good enough for me. 

Trimming hackle is not a new concept.  It just never caught on because fly anglers don't like the way it looks.  But, take a moment and think about it. An insect's feet are not pointed like untrimmed hackle and there are not tons of them bunched up under the thorax either.  The Ugly Fly's limited number of hackle wraps allows for fewer legs and the overlapping method of applying it causes them to extend at different angles.  This, and the inverted "V" shape, allows the feet to contact the surface where they should, along the sides of the body and thorax.  The inverted "V" shape also causes the fly to land upright and ride low in the water, just like the real insect. 

The single wing concept is not unheard of either.  I've been tying certain dun patterns like that for years because when duns dry their wings they hold them upright like tiny little sailboats floating on the surface.  It may not be popular in the fly tying world but it works great.  Not that traditional two winged flies don't work, they do, but so do single wings. 

Lets look beyond appearance to the more physical concept of floatation.  Contrary to what some may think, trimmed hackle will not absorb water.  In fact, it will float better because the blunt ends don't penetrate the surface film as easily. 

Any hackle will float longer when trimmed but the unique texture and natural waterproofing quality of Coq de Leon hackle makes it float much better and longer than traditional hackle.  Floatants are not needed and should be avoided because it will reduce it's translucent appearance of Coq de Leon.  Dying will also reduce translucence and besides, dye won't take well due to the natural waterproofing characteristics. 

Indio Coq de Leon is the Ugly Fly's magical ingredient.  The specific wrapping and trimming is the application that makes it work so great.  Indio Coq de Leon is a very rare feather from a specific type of Coq de Leon rooster found in Spain.  Unfortunately, it is not readily available so we suggest the stiffest and most glossy traditional dry fly hackle as possible.  Pardo type Coq de Leon is available in our on-line store (link at bottom of page).   Select at least 2 or 3 times oversized hackle to ensure the blunt tips after trimming.  You can use the Ugly Fly method with any oversized dry fly hackle.  It may not look or behave nearly as well as Indio Coq de Leon but it will perform better than than the typical upright dry fly style.

Be sure to visit our on-line store at

 http://www.flytyingworld.com/angling/index.html
for your tying needs.

When I was young I couldn't afford commercial hackle.  I was limited to barnyard roosters and often ran out of the smaller sized hackle.  I started trimming the plentiful oversized hackle to fit the fly.  They didn't look that great but the fish didn't seem to care.  It seemed the trimmed hackle flies floated longer and at times produced better.

After getting to know other anglers who would inspect my flies, and was able to afford commercial rooster necks, I converted back to the traditional way of tying dry flies.  It wasn't until my good friend, Paco Soria, showed me his Ugly Fly method of tying that I realized the advantage of trimmed hackle.  His method took it even farther by cutting the hackle from the bottom of the fly into an inverted V shape.  All this came together as he explained why his style performed better.

Paco lived in Spain and was a Coq de Leon breeder so had an ample supply of Indio.  He sent me some and I was amazed at the stiff glossy fibers.  They were unlike any hackle I had ever seen before.  After tying several Ugly Flies with the Indio hackle I gave them a try.  They looked more realistic on the water and apparently the trout thought so too.  I've fished them in Virginia, North Caroline, Tennessee, and Pennsylvania with excellent results in riffles and runs.  They are my favorite dry fly style, even with commercial genetic hackle.  They may not be as effective as Indio Coq de Leon but I found them to be more effective than traditional hackled style flies.

I tried in vain to improve Paco’s Ugly Fly method but he obviously perfected the style before introducing it to me.  You can alter the Ugly’s body but I suggest you follow Paco’s instructions precisely on the wing and hackle.  Don’t waste your feathers.

Dry fly hackle usually comes from the neck or genetic saddles.  Be sure to use the best quality hackle you can afford.  The more glossy and stiff the better.

Step 1:  Tie in the tail and body of the fly you wish to represent, leaving the thread in the position pictured.  The hackle's stiffness supports the fly on the surface better and the glossy texture repels water better, thus floating longer with less scum, build-up.   

Step 2:  Position the feather brilliant side up with tip pointing to left.  Prepare the hackle by grasping the tip (used as the wing) between the left thumb and finger.  Be sure to grasp just enough fibers so the wing length will be between 1½ to 2 times the hook gap.

With the other hand, grasp the fibers below the wing and slide them toward the base.  This will flare out the fibers perpendicular to the stem.

Cut away 3 or 4 fibers from between the wing and flared fibers (both sides) to allow room for thread when attaching to the hook shank.  Trim the hackle fibers evenly on both sides, the same length or slightly shorter, than the wing is long.

Make sure the trimmed hackle is sized to the hook.

Trimming before wrapping is a lot easier than trimming afterwards.

Trim away top feather fibers as shown in bottom picture.  Leave only enough fibers on top side for 2 or 3 turns in front and 2 to 3 turns behind the wing.  This should be about 2 cm or 13/16" (inch) or a little more for larger than size 16 hooks.  This will allow for wraps toward rear to include fibers from both sides of feather but return wraps forward will involve only fibers on one side of feather.  The reason for this is to reduce the amount of disturbance to fibers on the return wraps, creating a better spread of fibers for more realistic footprints. 

Step 3:  Tie in the wing tip by laying the hackle tip toward the rear and in line with the hook.  Wrap the thread snug behind the wing 2 or 3 times to support the wing upright and then forward to the head position.  

Note:  If your wing is different than the hackle then tie them in separate, but always leave the base of the hackle in front of the wing.  You can lightly splay wings by tying the hackle stem through the middle.

Step 4. Wrap the hackle two times after it starts to flare, once in front of the wing and once behind it.

Note: I sometimes wrap hackle twice in front and back but it is not quite as realistic on the water.

Step 5. Then maneuver it forward, overlapping and oscillating through the previous wraps, once behind and once forward of the wing. The reason you overlap hackle is to make the fibers stick out at angles to appear as legs along the front of the body. This will not happen if you tie the hackle the traditional way, or try to flare with thread.

Step 6.  Tie off the hackle, clip, and whip finish.  The hackle should appear sparse and flared as pictured.  

Step 7.  View the fly from the front and trim the underside hackle to an inverted "V" shape (see picture).  

Note 1:  You may find it easier to remove the fly from the vice and hold it in your hand.  The inverted "V" causes the remaining hackle to rest in the surface film as tiny little insect feet. 

Note 2: I usually place a drop of penetrating head cement or Zap-a-Gap on the underside of the hackle wrap to give extra durability and extended life.  However, this may decrease it's floatability.

Now comes the best part...  Go fish the "Ugly Fly" and you'll see for yourself how realistic it appears on the water.   Not only will it fool the trout but it will fool you too.  Keep an eye on it because it will blend in with the naturals so well that you loose track of it. 

Click here to Return To Classroom.

Go to Paco Soria's Introduction and see more of his flies.

See more about Coq de Leon at The Magic of Coq de Leon article.

Be sure to visit our on-line store at

 http://www.flytyingworld.com/angling/index.html
for your tying needs.