Fly Tying Tuesday: Hot Spotting

If you take a look into the bins at your local fly shop, you will easily find some examples of hot spotting. I will venture to say that in the near future, you will see even more patterns featuring hot spots. So what is hot spotting?

Simply put, hot spotting is adding a bit of bright color to a fly, thus creating a visible hot spot. It can be as simple as using fluorescent thread to tie off a pattern. In this example, the hot spot is the thread head. All our Stimulator dry flies are tied with fluorescent orange thread-Hmmm.

A fluorescent orange bead can be a hot spot. We call them fire beads. We’ve got over two dozen flies with fire beads in our bins. They are among our leading sellers.

Another way to add a hot spot is with the new Bug Collars from Bozeman Fly Goods. Bug Collars can be used in conjunction with standard beads. Not only do they add a hot spot, they also add extra weight to help sink your nymphs. For an example, follow this link.

A hot spot can also be located in the abdomen of a fly. A prime example is the Czech Nymph. By using a splash of pink or orange UV dubbing in the middle of the fly, a basic fly becomes a fish magnet.

The tail of a fly can be another hot spot location. Red tails and tags have been popular on flies for years. Fluorescent orange, pink, or chartreuse can be even better.

So why is hot spotting effective? Simply put, we are talking visibility. Whether you are fishing a tiny nymph in deep water or floating a dry fly in the middle of a blanket hatch, a hot spot can get your fly noticed. The key is to add your hot spot to a fly with a profile that is already a proven fish catcher. The hot spot grabs attention and the profile closes the deal. It’s like adding a trigger to your fly.

Bang-tight lines!