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Falloon SBS101

Leonard Flemming 3

Falloon SBS101

A few people have been on my case about a step-by-step (SBS) article on the Falloon. I am now convinced that it is a great fly and certainly worth the time to tie if you are a species-crazy angler. I received positive reports from Gerald Penkler (who caught a nice big UK brown on the concept), Peter Coetzee (who swore that the Falloon was the only ‘thing’ the Berg River carp wanted on a recent trip) and Guy Ferguson (who mentioned that Danie van Zyl of www.kalahaririverandsafari.co.za said you can’t visit his spot on the Orange River without the Falloon).

Gerald Penkler with a lovely brown trout that he caught on the Falloon concept in the UK.
Gerald Penkler with a lovely brown trout that he caught on the Falloon concept in the UK.
Catfish likely pick up the vibration of the Falloon's lively tail making it a deadly pattern for them in my opinion.
Catfish likely pick up the vibration of the Falloon’s lively tail making it a deadly pattern for them in my opinion.

More recently, I’ve also managed to catch rainbow trout on the fly. The fish took it with such confidence and aggression that I believe it should be a part of every serious trout angler’s fly box. Here is the SBS pictorial demonstration of the Falloon:

1 - Select a 'smallish', sturdy curved hook, such as the Dohiku wet fly hooks.
1 – Select a ‘smallish’, sturdy curved hook, such as the Dohiku wet fly hook.

2 - Use a selection of tungsten beads (<3.5 mm) to add weight to the fly.
2 – Use a selection of tungsten beads (<3.5 mm) to add weight to the fly.[/caption] [caption id="attachment_14993" align="alignnone" width="1152"]3 - Grab a balloon from a packet with multi-coloured ones (white, black and yellow are my favourites - in that order) 3 – Grab a balloon from a packet with multi-coloured ones (white, black and yellow are my favourites – in that order).

4 - Cut a half-moon shape with a stem from the fold of the balloon.
4 – Cut a half-moon shape with a stem from the fold of the balloon.
5 - Open the cut piece so that it looks like a lolly-pop.
5 – Open the cut piece so that it looks like a lolly-pop.
6 - Cut out an inner circle with a fine pair of scissors to shape the tail.
6 – Cut out an inner circle with a fine pair of scissors to shape the tail.
7 - Prepare a hand-full of tails while you're at it.
7 – Prepare a hand-full of tails while you’re at it.
8 - The mouthpiece of the balloon will be used for the body of the fly.
8 – The mouthpiece of the balloon will be used for the body of the fly.
9 - Tear off the mouthpiece so that it's flush like an O-ring.
9 – Tear off the mouthpiece so that it’s flush like an O-ring.
10 - Prepare the hook in the vice and wrap Gordon Griffith's Sheer 14/0 to the 'bend' of the hook.
10 – Prepare the hook in the vice and wrap Gordon Griffiths Sheer 14/0 to the ‘bend’ of the hook.
11 - Tie the stem of the tail in so that the tip of the tail faces away from the hook tip.
11 – Tie the stem of the tail in so that the tip of the tail faces away from the hook tip.

12

12 - Tie in the cut and tapered rubber rib that was the mouthpiece of the balloon.
12 – Tie in the cut and tapered rubber rib that was the mouthpiece of the balloon.
13 - Wrap the rib forward to form the segmented body of the 'worm'.
13 – Wrap the rib forward to form the segmented body and tie it off just behind the bead.
14 - After cutting off the excess rubber rib, tie in a few strands of peacock herl.
14 – After cutting off the excess rubber rib, tie in a few strands of peacock herl.
15 - Twist the peacock herl into a noodle and wrap it to form the collar of the fly.
15 – Twist the peacock herl into a noodle and wrap it to form the collar of the fly.
16 - After a half-hitch and a bit of varnish to secure the thread, the fly is ready to use.
16 – After a half-hitch and a bit of varnish to secure the thread, the fly is ready to use.
17 - The shape of the tail should look like this in the water - it moves nicely with the resistance of water.
17 – The shape of the tail should look like this in the water – it moves nicely with the resistance of water.
Black Falloons work really well for trout.
Black Falloons work really well for trout.
I believe that a black Falloon may be mistaken for a tadpole by predatory fish. This rainbow ate the fly like his life depended on it...
I believe that a black Falloon may be mistaken for a tadpole by predatory fish. This rainbow ate the fly like its life depended on it…

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