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The Gotcha is a bit like the Pheasant Tail or Wooly Bugger of Saltwater flies…the original is a timeless classic that still produces fish and it is the basis for many variants. The Gotcha Rubberlegs is an example.

A few tying notes:

• When choosing a tail, there are numerous options. Some think that mylar tubing – the traditional tailing material – is less durable than new materials. Using the same material that is used for the body – the flat braid – is an interesting way to reduce the number of materials needed to tie this fly.
• Use the body material to help create a taper. This is done in two ways: (1) Double the tag end of the material behind the eyes, and (2) start wrapping the body material using touching wraps…as you get closer to the eyes, transition to overlapping wraps.
• If you use Finn Raccoon or Fox for the wing, be sure to align the tips of the guard hairs and under fur. This can be done by hand (do not put in a stacker) by pulling the guard hairs out of the bunch by their tips and then stacking them back into the bundle with the tips aligned. We want both types of hairs, but we want them aligned.

The recipe:

• Hook: Gama SL11-3H, sies 2-8, https://www.discountflies.com/...
• Eyes: Bead chain or weighted. Leave enough room for a prominent head between the eyes and the hook eye.
• Thread (Body): 70 Denier, Shell Pink.
• Thread (Head): SEMPERFLI Floss (2/0), Fluoro Red. https://www.discountflies.com/...
• Tail: Mylar Tubing, Cascade Crest Midge Rainbow Flash Pearl (https://www.discountflies.com/...), or SEMPERFLI Flat Braid 1/16th (1.5mm). https://www.discountflies.com/...
• Body: SEMPERFLI Flat Braid 1/16th (1.5mm). https://www.discountflies.com/product/M-SFBR.html
• Wing: Finn Raccoon, Fox (https://www.discountflies.com/...), or Craft Fur (https://www.discountflies.com/...); Tan.
• Rubberlegs: Silli legs or rubber legs, clear or tan.