Folded Film Emerger Wings from Fly-Tiers Benchside Reference - page 342
Folded Film Emerger Wings
We saw this approach to forming caddis emerger wings in the work of English tyer Oliver Edwards. Edwards uses Swiss straw, as shown in the following demonstration, but any film material that takes a crease well can be used.
The technique is quite simple and produces durable wings.
Step 1. All fly components that lie behind the thorax are dressed first. Lay a short thread foundation over the thorax area and return the thread to the front of the abdomen. Cut a piece of film material about 2” long and about as wide as the hook gap. Fold the film in half lengthwise to make a thinner strip of double thickness.
Hold the tying thread beneath the hook shank, and fold the film around the thread, as shown. The fold should face the hook eye.
Step 2. Slide the film upward to the underside of the shank, and secure it there with 2 or 3 tight thread wraps. When the film is mounted, unfold the two halves and draw them outward from either side of the hook shank as shown.
Step 3. Draw the ends of the film rearward around the sides of the abdomen and slightly downward. Pinch them together beyond the hook bend, as shown. Pull the film taut. Secure the film in this position with tight thread wraps at the front of the abdomen.
Step 4. At this point, dress the thorax of the fly and any other components that lie behind the wing tie-off point. Make certain to leave sufficient room behind the hook eye for any legs or other components that will be applied after the wings are tied off. To form the wing on the near side of the shank, use the left hand to position a dubbing needle vertically at the midpoint of the abdomen, as shown.
With the right hand, fold the film around the needle and toward the hook eye.
Step 5. With the left fingers, pinch the folded wing tightly against the side of the thorax. Secure it to the shank with 2 moderately tight thread wraps.
With the right fingers, grab the tag end of the film material and pull it upward. This helps compress and gather the film beneath the tie-down wraps to make the wing narrower at the front. Do not clip the film tag yet.
Step 6. Repeat Steps 4-6 using the remaining film strip to form a wing on the far side of the shank. Take care to make the wings of equal length. When the far is wing formed, pinch both wings against the sides of the thorax, and secure both film tags with tight thread wraps. Clip and bind down the excess. The fly can be finished with a thread head, or other components added.
