This fly is for poking along the bottom of the shallows, like a wounded minow trying to bury its head in the silt, a sure lure for predators.
Hook: EC 215A (8XL ring eye) size 2-8
Tail: Long marabou tuffs
Body: Matching closed cell foam rubber, shaped
Weight: Lead wire
Thread: Black (or light brown) Monocord
This is a fairly simple fly to tie, the hardest part being the body if preformed bodies are not used. The second hardest is finding the right balance of wire for the body, so that it sinks fast enough to raise a bit of silt on impact with the bottom, but not so fast that it sinks like a bullet and is hard to work.
The body, if self made, should be formed first in mass, making as many as several dozen if desired. It should be roughly ovuloid and capable of easily floating the hook.
Start by carefully wrapping a solid foundation, cement. Tie in the marabou tuffs and run the thread forward. Tie in the lead wire and finish with a wrap knot. Then epoxy the foam body in place.
This is a still water bug, for use in weedless shallows, with a heavy bug taper fly line (8-9). A strike indicator high on the leader is most useful. Cast and allow the bug to sink to the bottom. Twitch in place without moving the fly, being very patient and careful not to raise the fly from its place for ten to fifteen twitches. The desired result for the twitch is to move the marabou tail and raise a tiny bit of silt. After a couple of minutes, if there is no action, pull the bug from the bottom and retrieve a few feet to a new location and repeat the twitches. A single cast can take 20 - 30 minutes to work properly. However, if there are predatory fish in the area, it won't sit there for 20 minutes, much less 5. It imitates easy pickings, and the fish won't leave it be. Be ready to set the hook at the first sign of motion.