Learn how to tie Lance Egan's Iron Lotus fly pattern including step-by-step instructions, a video tutorial, pictures, and much more. Improve your fly tying skills here.

Did you find this video helpful? We've got hundreds more just like it. Subscribe to Trident's YouTube Channel and enhance your fly-tying skills. New videos are posted frequently in a variety of different patterns.

Trident Fly Fishing is a full-service fly shop. We spend a lot of time testing gear and writing reviews to give you all of the tools to make your next trip a success. We are not a blog or a review site. 100% of our funding comes from your gear purchases, so if this blog post helps you on your next fly fishing adventure, please support us by buying your gear from us.

The Iron Lotus is a mayfly nymph imitation that quickly sinks thanks to a smooth-coated layer of Solarez Bone Dry, tungsten bead, and lead wire. The Iron Lotus’ sleek silhouette and segmented body create a natural-looking mayfly nymph, and the red hotspot provides just enough flash and color contrast to grab a trout’s attention.

Materials:

We've put together a kit that contains all the materials you need to tie this exact fly pattern.

Click the button below to shop the selection.

Buy Material Kit

Step One

Begin the pattern by sliding the bead to the hook’s eye.

Step Two

We’re setting the bead with the lead wire. Wrap the wire six times around the shank, then push it into the bead. 

Step Three

Next, establish a thread base by running the olive thread below the wire to the hook’s point.

Step Four

For the tail, tie six Coq De Leon pieces on the hook’s rear and wrap the thread to the lead. Ensure the tail runs half the shank’s length and snip the forward-facing material.

Step Five

We are now moving on to the Iron Lotus’ ribbed section. Secure the UNI material near the lead wire, then cover the rearward-facing material with thread. Run the thread to the hook’s eye before moving on to the next step.

Step Six

Complete the Iron Lotus’ ribbing by advancing the UNI material up the shank with evenly spaced wraps, then tie off the material behind the bead.

Step Seven

Finish the pattern’s first part by securing whip finish behind the bead, then snip the olive thread.

Step Eight

Apply the Bone Dry resin over the tied-in material, then hit it with the light.

Step Nine

Establish a second thread base by running the red thread below the bead to the thorax.

Step Ten

Start the wingcase by tying the scud back material behind the bead.

Step Eleven

Apply dubbing to the thread and make several tight wraps at the collar for the pattern’s thorax.

Step Twelve

Complete the wingcase by pulling the scud back fiber forward and securing it directly behind the bead.

Step Thirteen

Finish the pattern by snipping the forward-facing scud back material and securing it with a whip finish.