Knowing how to tie a Frenchie fly will help you a lot in fishing, especially if you’re new to this sport. The pattern is a favorite option among many fly-fishing anglers.
My article will explain some popular types of Frenchie flies and provide specific guidelines on how to secure them with ease. Let’s scroll down for more details!
What Is Frenchie Fly?
Origin
The Frenchie fly pattern is a direct offspring of the pheasant tail nymph first created by Frank Sawyer in the 1950s.
The design was based on pheasant tail fibers used to make the thorax, abdomen, wing case, and tail.
This wire-haired Frenchie resembles a mayfly nymph and plays an important role in Baetis’ imitation fishing. The Team USA members Lance Egan and George Daniels noticed this pattern.
Lance Egan is frequently credited for modifying it to fit smaller sizes with a scud-style hook. Thus, it’s also called Egan’s Frenchie.
Types
There are various Frenchie fly pattern colors that work well underwater. Some of them include purple, orange, and olive.
Besides, the Egan’s Thread Frenchie, a combination of Danville Olive 6/0 and Loons UV Fly Finish Flow, is also a favorite choice of many fly fishers.
How To Tie A Frenchie Fly
The process includes placing the bead on the hook, wrapping the lead wire, tying thread to make the body, ribbing, and securing the whole pattern.
Learning how to fly tying requires some practice, but it’s not too difficult to create a perfect fly for your water tackling.
Preparation
Before starting the process, let’s get to know the Frenchie fly pattern recipe:
| Purple | Orange | Olive | Egan’s Thread Frenchie | |
| Weight | .015 Leadfree Wire | .015 Leadfree Wire | .015 Leadfree Wire | |
| Tail | Coq de Leon Medium Pardo | Coq de Leon Dark Pardo | Coq de Leon Medium Pardo | Coq de Leon Medium Pardo |
| Ribbing | Small Gold Wire | Small Copper Wire | Small Gold Wire | Uni-Soft Wire Medium Brown |
| Abdomen | Black Dyed Pheasant Tail fibers | Yellow Dyed Pheasant Tail fibers | Olive Dyed Pheasant Tail fibers | Danville Olive 6/0 coated with Loons UV Fly Finish Flow |
| Thorax | UV Purple Ice Dubbing | Orange Ice Dubbing | Caddis Green Ice Dubbing | Danville Olive 6/0 coated with Loons UV Fly Finish Flow |
| Hook | Firehole 551, size 14-16 | Hanak 400BL , size 14-16 | Hanak 400BL , size 14-16 | Firestick 551, size 12-16 |
| Bead | 7/64 Gold slotted tungsten | 7/64 Gold slotted tungsten | 7/64 Gold slotted tungsten | 7/64 Copper slotted tungsten |
| Thread | Uni-thread Black 8/0 | Uni-thread Olive 8/0 | Veevus Olive 10/0 | Danville Olive 6/0 |
| Hot Spot | Uni-thread Purple 8/0 | Uni-thread Fire Orange 6/0 | Danville Chartreuse 6/0 | Ice Dubbing UV Pink |
Guideline
Step 1. Deal with the hook and bead
First, start by putting the Tactical Tungsten Bead on the hook. Ensure it’s positioned slightly away from the hook eye and its slot is facing down.
Step 2. Use the lead wire
Next, take the lead wire and wrap it 5 to 6 times, then move it forward.
The purpose of this step is to secure the bead at the hook’s front, provide more weight for the pattern, and improve its sinking capability.
Step 3. Tie in the thread
Measure 4 to 5 Coq De Leon fibers to determine the length of the hook shank. Cut off the feathers and attach them just behind the lead wire.
After that, you need to ensure the tail is in its place by wrapping it backward and then repositioning the thread behind the lead wire.
Step 4. Tie in the wire
The next move is to tie UTC Brassie Wire in the bead slot. You should ensure the wire is on your side of the hook and then wrap the thread backward to secure it in place.
Step 5. Create the body and tie off the tail
Now, you need to create the fly’s body part and tie off the tail. Trim the tips of the Pheasant Tail strands and tie them behind the bead.
Secure the tail by wrapping the thread backward and then up to the bead. Tie off the feathers and remove any excessive parts.
Step 6. Do the ribbing
The next step is to rib the pattern by wrapping the UTC Brassie Wire forward in open turns, giving it additional resilience and ribbing. Then, tie off the wire behind the bead and trim extra parts.
Step 7. Tie in the hot spot
Apply a small amount of Ice Dub onto your thread. Avoid using a large amount of Ice Dub, as it can make the profile bigger.
Now, you need to create a hot spot behind the bead by keeping and wrapping the dubbing tightly, whipping the finish, and clipping the thread.
Step 8. Secure with water-based head cement
The last step is placing water-based head cement to secure the Frenchie jig nymph, and you’ve completed the process.
Here is a video on how to do the Frenchie fly tying for your reference.
FAQs
What Is The Best Hook Option You Should Use?
There are fishing hooks that work well with the Frenchies fly, but I prefer a jig hook. However, using a straight shank or a curved shank hook will be no issue.
It all depends on your preference and how convenient you feel when combining them.
What Is The Best Color Of Frenchie Fly?
The best combination is the orange collar and UV pink ice dubbing since it can attract fish better.
However, you can also use orange, purple, and olive patterns with their corresponding colors of threads. With fly fishing, you can always choose what’s best for you.
How Do You Deal With Different Frenchie Sizes And Weights?
When you have a thread Frenchie of size 20, you’d better use it as an emerging BWO, sulfur, or midge in film or shallow water.
Meanwhile, a size 10 heavily weighted pattern works like a Hendrickson anchor or a stonefly in plunge pools and deep flows.
Conclusion
Now you know how to tie a Frenchie fly. The process is not difficult and suitable for newbies or intermediate fishermen.
However, since the Frenchie nymph is small (like most fly fishing patterns), you need to be patient and keep practicing until you master it.
Follow my instructions above and start your productive fishing day right now!
