Fed’s Orange Bass Flopper (updated!)

Back by popular demand, Fed’s Orange Bass Flopper gets a fresh update! Originally tied in two variations (see below), this combination hopper, Chernobyl ant and cicada pattern is designed to make a splash with hungry bass.

Fed’s originals featured curtain fringe in a silver-and-blue hi-vis mix and white poly yarn for the wing. The two versions were tied on size 6 hooks with four legs and size 8 hooks with two legs.

Size 6 hook, four legs, curtain fringe.
Size 8 hook, two legs, white poly yarn.

For the updated version, we’re trying the flavour of the month – FTD Congo Plus White – for a fresh take on this Club favourite.

Materials

  • Hook:3x size 6 or 8
  • Thread:Woolly Nylon red
  • Body:Two foam pieces glued and stamped from Chernobyl ant stamps (black and orange)
  • Legs:Orange rubber legs
  • Wing:FTD Congo Plus White (new material)
Congo Plus White
Rubber legs - barred orange
2mm foam - black
2mm foam orange
3x size 6 and 8 hooks

Preparation

Chernobyl round end foam body cutter

Glue two pieces of foam together with foam glue and let set over night. Make sure the top black piece of foam is closed cell and you can use craft foam for the bottom.

I use the 4cm x 1cm Chernobyl body ant stamp for the bodies making sure you make the front of the foam about 2cm past the end of the stamp.

Tying Instructions

  1. Crimp the hook barb.
  2. Apply a small dab of Sally Hansen’s to the hook shank.
Hook barb crimped and hook shank prepared with Sally Hansen’s Hard as Nails.
Orange foam tied in over the hook bend, orange side facing down.
  1. Start the thread and wrap back to the bend of the hook, covering the shank.
  2. Tie in the orange foam with the orange side facing down, extending it over the bend.
  1. Make three turns of thread over the foam, followed by one turn underneath and one over the top.
  2. Tie in two rubber legs and secure them with the thread.
First foam segment secured with thread and two rubber legs tied in.
Second foam segment tied in, with the segmented orange body taking shape.
  1. Advance the thread three turns and tie in the next foam segment with three turns.
  2. Repeat the process, advancing three turns and tying in a new segment each time.
  1. Continue until you reach the final segment, immediately behind the hook eye. Secure it with three turns, followed by one turn underneath and one over the top.
  2. Trim the front of the foam at an angle towards the hook eye.
Additional foam segments secured along the hook shank to form the body.
Final foam segment secured behind the hook eye, with the front trimmed at an angle.
  1. Tie in the FTD Congo Plus White wing at the final segment.
  2. Fold the wing back over itself and wrap the thread over it, advancing back to the third foam segment.
  1. Secure the wing, then wrap the thread back towards the eye, finishing over the fourth segment.
  2. Fold the foam forward and tie it off to form a large head.
White FTD Congo Plus wing tied in, wing and foam folded back over the body.
Foam head trimmed and two rubber legs tied in on either side.
  1. Trim the excess foam back to the head.
  2. Tie in two rubber legs on either side of the head.
  1. Apply half-hitches and whip-finish the thread behind the hook eye.
  2. Turn the fly over and check that the foam, wing and legs are aligned straight.
Fly turned over to check if the foam, wing and legs are aligned straight.
Legs trimmed to length and the underside coated with Sally Hansen’s.
  1. Trim the legs to length.
  2. Coat the underside of the fly with Sally Hansen’s to finish.
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Julian Tapping
Julian Tapping
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