How to Tie the Mop Fly Pattern

Oct 28, 2021 · 2 min read

Learn how to tie the Mop Fly pattern including step-by-step instructions, a video tutorial, pictures, and much more. Improve your fly tying skills here.

Sacrilege? Some may think so, but regardless of your stance, the Mop Fly flat-out works. A super simple tie and one that produces fish just about everywhere you take it, the Mop Fly is an essential pattern whether you're after trout or panfish. A great searching pattern and an even better cranefly larva imitation, the Mop Fly combines just the right amount of movement with just enough flash. Tie it in almost any color scheme you can come up with; this fly is a constant producer whether you're after wild or stocked fish.

Materials:

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

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Hook: Ahrex FW541 (sizes 8-16)
Bead to match hook size
Thread: UNI-Thread (color: Camel; size 8/0)
Body: UV Galaxy Mop Chenille
Thorax: Ice Dub

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Step One

Gold beadhead on dark curved hook clamped in vise with tan thread, beginning mop fly pattern for fly tying

Begin the pattern by sliding the bead onto the hook. Run the thread from below the eye until 20 percent of the shank is covered.

Step Two

Bead-head hook in vise with cream mop fly fibers wrapped along shank, fine thread trailing, fly tying

Next, we move on to the mop chenille section, which is the pattern's key ingredient. Clip three-fourths-of-an-inch of the chenille material and position it on the shank's top. Be sure to secure the material with a pinch-wrap, followed by several additional wraps

Step Three

Beige mop fly being tied on a curved hook with gold bead head in a vise, fly tying thread and scissors visible

The mop material should be no longer than an inch and a half times the shank's length. If you tied too much material on, go ahead and trim to the desired size.

Step Four

Close-up fly tying of a beige mop fly on a bead-headed hook in a vise, fuzzy yarn head and fingertips shaping the pattern

A clean-cut on the tip end will cause the chenille to lose fibers. To counter this, take a lighter and gently file down the end portion.

Step Five

White mop fly with gold bead head, iridescent flash fibers and brown dubbing on hook held in vise, fly fishing pattern

For the next step, work in a small amount of ice dubbing onto the thread. Make several loose wraps below the bead to better develop the fly's collar. The loose wraps help give the Mop a buggy profile.

Step Six

Tan mop fly with iridescent tinsel and gold bead head tied on black hook in vise, fly fishing tutorial

Make several wraps below the bead after the collar is tied in, then finish the pattern by securing a whip-finish. Now the Mop Fly is reading to hit the water.

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.

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