How to tie in a weed guard

[afishinado]

Short video on how to tie in several different versions of weed guards to your fly.

 

[Baron]

I really benefitted by this video series and thank you for it.

I'm deciding soon when to slide on in to fly tying. Slip'n n Slide'n, Slip'n n Slide'n. Should've run when I had the chance, Melvin!

Weed Guards are an interesting subject as I love fishing in and around weed beds. In fact I increased the leader size dramatically so I could rip free when caught where I can't shake it loose in person. I feel that learning to tie the basic stuff will potentially produce flies with more flexibility for use in weed beds. So often I see the weeds moving way out ahead of me and I suspect its a Bass or big Pickerel chasing bait of some sort. I want to be able to cast right across the pads and nail that location. It can't be done with lite tippet and it can't be done unless the flies are weedless to some degree. So I found this and other videos helpful against the day I start tying my own.

 

[Bamboozle]

Since most mono weed guards are tied from the fly head or from the fly head to the hook bend, it is far from impossible to add them AFTER the fact to many already tied bass flies.

I've done it myself on occasion with store bought bass flies.

It would also be a way to "slide" into into fly tying because all you need is some heavy mono, fly tying thread and some clear nail polish or head cement if you are very dexterous, or at minimum a cheap fly tying vise or a pair of Vise Grips and a fly tying bobbin.

Just a thought...

I will suggest that you create a flat spot at the very end of the mono with a pair of pliers or hemostats and get a few tight wraps behind the flat spot to keep it from pulling out of any thread wraps.

 

[Baron]

That sounds like a reasonable solution to put some old flies to work. I'm in process and will acquire a vise before too long. Might as well work into it bit by bit.

 

[Baron]

Afish that looks easy enough. I've even seen double mono loops. Is it really possible to get this to where one can really drag this over pads safely and yet the fish can compress them adequately in order to hook up? The first type he tied where it is just a tag may be nice for very very lite dry or even wet flies but Im doubtful it would do much for streamers.

 

[Bamboozle]

There is no such thing as a weedless anything short of a Texas rigged soft plastic.

Therefore, expect a few snags or drags and use a stout tippet so you can pull it free.

It's part of the game if you fish in weeds.