Higa's SOS

Spencer Higa's SOS (Save Our Skin) has been one the hotter flies to hit the streams within the last 5 or so years.  I would recommend tying them from size 8 for larger mayflies all the way down to 24 to cover midges.

I have slightly deviated from the original by using SLF Enhancer for the thorax vice rabbit, utilized Veevus Iris thread (peacock) vice black Krystal Flash for the legs and replaced a gold bead with a clear glass bead with a metallic silver lining.

The ribbing can be either silver or gold, but silver seems to draw more fish.  I don't believe the original was tied with legs, but they sure seem to be more popular with anglers.

This is an easy tie...  Stock the box!

Materials:

Hook:  Daiichi 1120 (or any curved nymph hook), sizes 8 to 24

Bead: Choice

Thread:  Black (pictured is 10/0 Veevus)

Tail:  Black hackle fiber

Rib:  Silver, round

Body: Thread

Wingcase:  Red floss

Thorax:  SLF Enhancer, black

Legs:  Veevus Iris thread,

Step 1:

Prep hook by inching barb and adding bead.  Secure in vice.  Start thread behind the bead and wind rearward stopping just before hook point.

Step 2:

Tie approximately 10 black hackle fibers to the top of the fly.  Wind even, flat wraps fairly deep in to the bend of the hook and return thread to the thorax area.  Remove butt ends.  The length of tail is approximately one hook gap, but I occasionally tie the tail a little longer.

Step 3:

Tie in silver wire to the far side of the hook and make flat, even wraps to the tail and return to the thorax region.  Make segmented wraps of silver wire to form the ribbing.  Secure behind the bead.

Step 4:

Tie in a piece of red floss to the top of the hook stopping just behind the hook point as shown. Ensure the floss rests flat.

Step 5:

Dub a thorax slightly thicker in diameter than normal.

Step 6:

Pull floss wing case over the thorax.  Ensure the floss has remained wide and flattened.  Secure and remove tag end.

Step 7:

Cut approximately 2-inches of Iris thread and unravel both ends.  You should notice two pieces of metallic flash material and about a half dozen of fine nylon fibers.  Remove one strand of the flash material and tie in cluster with cross wraps.

Step 8:

Apply a tiny bit more dubbing in front of the legs and whip finish.

Tight lines!