Glass Bead Blood Worm Fly (With threadless version)

Blood worms are the larval stage of certain species of chironomids, which are present in most bodies of water. There are many chironomids that remain in larval form throughout the winter, making them an excellent winter fly pattern. This blood worm pattern is about as simple as fly tying gets, and you’ll be able to tie a large number of these quite quickly.

Materials

This glass bead blood worm fly is a very simple pattern, and it can be even be tied threadless. If you’re interested in tying them threadless, you just need materials pictured below:

• Red glass seed beads (I got these beads from Michaels, they’re 11/0 glass seed beads)
• Super Glue
• A scud hook of your choice. I’m using a size 12 Umpqua Scud / Pupa hook.
  
  Fly tying instructions for version #1 (threadless)
  
  Step 1: Mash barb. This actually serves a function in tying this fly, as the beads will not fit over the barb if it is not mashed.

  Step 2: Put 5-6 beads onto hook.

  Step 3: Position fly in vice so beads stay in place (may have to angle fly downwards) and apply superglue.

  That’s it for the simple version of the fly! The hook even shows through the beads to look like the guts of a real blood worm.

The above fly is perfectly fish-able, but I tie most of my blood worms using a slightly more complicated (but still very simple) pattern.

Fly tying instructions for version #2

Step 1: Start you thread near the hook eye. Make touching wraps rearward with the thread, making sure not to double wrap any portion of the thread on the hook. Finish up with a whip finish, and whip finish rearwards making sure not to go over any of the existing threadwraps. The beads actually will not go onto this hook if you wrap the thread to thick. You could always use a smaller gauge hook to get around this issue though.

Step 2: Put beads onto hook.

Step 3: Make a thread damn behind the last bead, securing it in place.

Step 4: Whip finish and trim the tag end of the thread.

 Step 5: Add head cement or hard as nails nail polish over the whole fly.

If you buy anything below, I get a bit of beer money (commission).

Step 5: Wait for the nail polish to dry. It will sink into the crevices of the fly and produce the final product shown below.

 The pattern is slightly heavier than most blood worm patterns, as the body is made entirely of glass beads. It’s been a solid trout pattern for me, especially in colder months or when the water level is low and clear.