Mantis Madness
This freestyle session quickly spiraled into chaos, and the result is what I’m calling Mantis Madness (my version of a mantis shrimp). At no point during the process did I have a clear plan for what came next—something that’s pretty obvious in the process video! 😂 While admittedly impractical, building this fly was a fun challenge, and swimming it was an absolute blast! That said, it needs some tweaks and several more iterations before it’s ready for prime time, so please, don’t try this at home!
Fly: Mantis Madness
Tied by: Erin Hyde
Materials:
- Main hook (size 2) / Trailer hook (size 4)
- Thread
- Tail/back legs
- Art markers
- Paint markers
- Finesse chenille
- Head cement
- Small weight
- Medium weight
- UV glue
- Trailer hook wire
- Carapace
- Glitter
- UV top coat
- Gorilla superglue
- Loctite superglue
- Legs
- Eyes
- Eye stalks/antennae
- UV nail polish for eyes (undercoat)
- UV nail polish for eyes (irridescent): Born Pretty Reflective Glass Cat Magnetic Gel Polish
- Eye stalk thread
Tools:
- Tester Tank *Use code ‘STF5’ for 5% off!*
- Vise
- Bobbin
- Scissors
- Bodkin
- Whip finish tool
- UV Light
- Thread zapper
Video/Photo Setup:
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Did you tie this fly?
Nicely done!
Tag me @_shetiesflies_ on Instagram so I can admire your masterpiece!
