MAKING EXTENDED BODIES USING THE SIMPLE LOOP METHOD

Text and photos by Agostino Roncallo

Genoa Italy

I always had a natural attraction for simplicity, a characteristic that always influences my way of tying artificial flies.

For many years I enjoyed experimenting with new ways of making extended bodies and, in time, I refined my process of fly construction in order to arrive at simpler and quicker methods of getting something done.

With the design of the loop body I believe that I managed to get exactly what I wanted in simplicity.

This extended body can be made with various natural materials such as the pheasant tail fibres, geese primaries, heron or peacock feathers, even with deer or elk hair and synthetic yarns.

 How to make an extended loop body

 1) Tie a bunch of pheasant tail fibres midway along the curve of a grub hook and on top with their tips facing towards the back.

2) With the help of the loop tool form a loop with the fibres and measuring how long you want the body to be, pull the bunch forward against the tension of the loop tool and fix the fibres onto the top of the hook shank.

3) Secure the butts of two pheasant tail fibres onto each side of the hook shank. Thread the individual fibres through the sides of the loop opening.

4) Note the loop tool is simply a piece of steel wire with a sharply angled end. Fix it into a plastic cylinder or piece of rounded wood (such as standard dowel) for easier handling.

5) Thread the end of the loop tool through the open arms of the loop.

4) Holding the loop under tension, wrap the thread fairly tightly and in wide loops around it.

 5) When you reach the end of the body, go back down the loop and secure the thread on the hook with a few wraps and a whip finish knot.

6) The extended loop body is made!

(Agostino is author of a world class publication on fly tying with Cdc - Magie in Cdc.

http://www.gobages.com/comu/litterature-halieutique/livre_peche_mouche_87.html

He also features in Steve Thorton’s prestigious publication Flytyers of the World Volume 1

http://www.vempublishing.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=24&Itemid=53)