1. Place the slotted bead onto the hook with the slot of the bead at the rear. There are two sides of the slot, a flat side and a round side. The round side of the slot should be above the hook shank.
2. Attach the thread behind the bead and wrap behind the bead until the bead is stabilized with the rounded side remaining above the shank.
3. Wrap a thick thread foundation behind the bead to the bend of the hook, wrapping back to behind the bead.
4. Measure a piece of mop chenille. You want to extend the body less than a shank length behind the bend of the hook.
5. Clipping off the segment of chenille, prepare the rear of the chenille with some zap-a-gap to keep the material from unravelling. You can squeeze the tip of the chenille to create a small taper.
6. Next, apply some zap-a-gap to the thread foundation. This will help anchor the chenille to the top of the shank.
7. Secure the piece of chenille behind the bead with thread wraps keeping the chenille on the top of the shank.
The mop fly is a simple yet effective pattern imitating insect larvae or grubs. It came about from a group of competitive anglers out of North Carolina around 2011 using the microfiber appendages found on inexpensive mop heads or drying cloths. The pattern was introduced to the USA Fly Fishing team and was utilized by Lance Egan in winning the US National Championships.
Versatile Worm Pattern
The Mop Fly wiggles when wet and is especially effective during high water conditions when natural grubs and inch worms are washed from the streambanks. The pattern can be used for trout, panfish, or bass. Use the pattern as a nymph with the tungsten beadhead getting the pattern to the bottom. The extended body should not exceed the shank length as the pattern is less than an inch in length.
Presentation
Make upstream casts, mending the line for a dragfree drift. As the fly comes closer to you, strip in the slack and raise the rod tip when the strike takes place. The fly creates plenty of action, so refrain from trying to create action as the pattern works better as a dead drift under an indicator. The Mop Dragon is a great choice for panfish like crappie, sunfish, or bass. The CDC Mop Fly will provide a very natural imitation and can be tied in a number of colorations such as yellow, cream, and pink.