How to Tie the Iron Lotus Fly Pattern

Jul 07, 2022 · 3 min read

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.

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

Gold beadhead on black curved hook held in vise, metal bead and dark wire for Iron Lotus fly pattern

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

Step Two

Gold bead-head Iron Lotus fly pattern on black curved hook clamped in metal vise against pale gray background

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

Beadhead hook clamped in vise with gold bead, olive thread wraps and dangling thread for Iron Lotus fly tying

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

Step Four

Beadhead Iron Lotus fly pattern with gold bead, olive thread body and mottled tail on hook in vise, fly fishing

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

Close-up fly tying: olive-thread Iron Lotus nymph with gold beadhead and sparse feather tail clamped in vise

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

Gold beadhead Iron Lotus fly pattern with olive thread body ribbed with wire and sparse brown tail held in vise, fly tying

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

Gold beadhead Iron Lotus fly with olive ribbed body and sparse tail on hook held in vise, fly fishing nymph

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

Step Eight

Gold beadhead Iron Lotus fly with dark blue ribbed body and sparse tail fibers held in vise under magnifying lamp

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

Step Nine

Iron Lotus bead-head fly in vise with gold bead, black and red thread body and gray feather tail for fly fishing

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

Step Ten

Close-up of Iron Lotus fly pattern in vise: black curved hook shank, gold bead head, red thread wraps and slim black body

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

Step Eleven

Beadhead Iron Lotus fly pattern with gold bead, olive dubbing body, wispy tail fibers held in vise during fly tying

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

Step Twelve

Close-up fly tying vise holding Iron Lotus fly pattern with gold beadhead, olive dubbing, black rubber leg and red thread

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

Step Thirteen

Gold beadhead Iron Lotus fly pattern with black body, red rib and olive dubbing on curved nymph hook

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

Written by

Stephen D' Angelo

Stephen D'Angelo is a fly fishing expert with a passion for fly tying, gear, and time on the water. From small-stream trout to saltwater flats fishing, Stephen brings hands-on experience across a wide range of species and scenarios — and he's always happy to help you find the right setup for your next adventure.

Comments

(0)

No comments yet. Be the first!