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Desert Storm
Desert Storm
Tying Instructions
1. Place the hook on the vise and attach the thread about one eye length behind the eye. This thread is waxed, so you will need a couple of wraps to secure. Have a tag end that is about 2-3 inches long and do not trim the tag.
2. Attach a strand of flash to the top of the shank and secure with even flat wraps down to the midpoint of the hook curve. You can maintain the flatness of the thread by clockwise spinning the bobbin after every couple wraps.
3. Once you’ve reached the mid-point of the curve, wrap back to the thorax position behind the eye. Again, it is important to keep the thread flat and even for a smooth body.
4. Take the tag end of the thread and twist it in a clockwise spin. You can do this with your fingers but a hackle plier will work better and you will have more control. Tighted the thread with the spinning until it forms a rope.
5. Wrap the roped tag end with evenly spaced wraps that are wide enough to allow the flashabou to fit between the roped ribbings. This ribbing should extend from the tail to the thorax position. Secure the ribbing at the thorax position with some thread wraps.
6. Next, wrap the Krystal Flash between the roped thread ribs up to the thorax region and secure. Trim off the tag ends.
7. Dub Black Superfine tightly to the thread and wrap a thorax.
8. Whip Finish in front of the thorax.
| Materials
to Order Material, click the link |
|
|---|---|
| Hook | TMC 2487, sizes 14-20 |
| Thread | Fluorescent Fire Orange Flat Waxed Thread |
| Head | Fluorescent Fire Orange Flat Waxed Thread |
| Body | Fluorescent Fire Orange Flat Waxed Thread |
| Thorax | Black Superfine Dubbing |
| Ribbing | Fluorescent Fire Orange Flat Waxed Thread and UV Pearl Krystal Flash |
Desert Storm
Desert Storm was designed by Johnny Gomez on the San Juan River in New Mexico around 1999. A subsequent article on the pattern appeared in Fly Fisherman magazine in 2001. Originally, the pattern used a single strand of Fluorescent Orange floss. However, Wapsi came out with an Ultra Thread UTC and became the preferred material as it lays down flat and is stronger than floss. UTC thread comes in three thicknesses, UTC 70 (70 denier) is similar to 8/0, UTC 140 is between 3/0 and 6/0. Note how you can get a greater segmentation by using a larger denier thread. Other multi-strand thread companies, such as Danville, produced a 210 denier thread that will work as well.
Just Three Materials
Only three materials make up this pattern, the thread, a strand of Krystal Flash, and some Black Superfine Dubbing for the thorax. Earlier versions of Desert Storm used Peacock Herl for the thorax. A tag end of the thread is allowed to remain untrimmed along the length of the shank. The thread is laid down as a evenly smooth body from behind the eye to the bend of the hook securing the Krystal Flash and the thread tag to the top of the hook shank. Then, the thread is wrapped forward to the thorax position, again with evenly flat wraps.
Take the tag end of thread that extends from the bend of the hook and twist it in a clockwise direction. This creates a rope that you can wrap forward in evenly spaced spirals and secure with thread wraps at the thorax position. Wrap the Krystal Flash between the roped segments and also secure at the thorax position. Dub the thread and create a thorax, finishing with a whip finish in front of the thorax for a head.
Colorations
The Fluorescent Orange coloration is popular on the San Juan River for the blood worms that trout key upon there. We use the same colorations here within the Sierra on streams and lakes but with larger sizes of hooks in #14-18. This pattern can be tied in other colorations too, imitating chironomids at different stages. You could use Blacks, Grays, Purples, or Reds. The roped thread ribbing gives an excellent representation of segmentation with the Krystal Flash providing a good attractor element to the pattern. Additional durability to the abdomen can be achieved by coating the body with an acrylic such as Sally’s Hard as Nails or using Super Glue before dubbing the thorax.
Variations
Brown Desert Storm
Fl. Green Desert Storm
Tan Desert Storm
| Hook | TMC 2487, sizes 14-20 |
| Thread | Danville 6/0 Tan |
| Head | Danville 6/0 Tan |
| Body | Danville 6/0 Tan |
| Thorax | Black Superfine Dubbing |
| Ribbing | Danville 6/0 Tan and UV Pearl Krystal Flash |
