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I was first introduced to this fly in 1999 when I was fishing for tailing trout in Bronte Lagoon in central Tasmania. Whilst the fish had their tail up and heads down and were obviously foraging for nymphs or drowned terrestrials my fishing partner said I should tie this non descript little dry fly, with its slightly lay back hackle, on and land it just in front of the fish as it mooched around the tussocks. I did just that and almost without hesitation the fish lifted its head and took the fly. After the fish was landed and released I had a good look at the ordinary fly and asked what it was. I was told it was made from 'bits' and 'bobs' from off the fly tying bench and that it was therefor called a Bob's bits. I don't know if that is the true origin of the bobs bits fly but that is exactly how I make it. A bit of seals fur dubbing and a bit of whatever hackle is left on the bench. Just a couple of steps to tie it has heaps of applications in rivers and still water. I still tie what I call a Bobs bits fly but I have settled on what I think is a slightly better mix of materials than the original hit and miss composite. I have also added a fine rib of Hends oval tinsel because I find that seals fur , whilst my preferred dubbing, doe fray with repeated use if not locked into position with ribbing.

Materials

Process

A	Wind the thread in touching turns to the bend of the hook. Understanding hooks Tie in a length of ribbing material.

B	Dub an acorn shaped body on the rear 2/3 of the hook shank. Single strand dubbing method Wind the ribbing forward 4 or 5 tight turns locking the seals fur dubbing into place and forming body segments on the fly.

C	Select a dry fly hackle and tie it in with the shiny side facing forward. By tying in the hackle shiny side forward there will be a tenancy for the hackle fibres to slop backward rather than forward. Normally dry fly hackle are tied in with the dull side of the hackle facing forward so that the hackle fibres will also face forward. Not so with this fly. Take the thread back to just in front of the body.

D	Wind on the hackle/s in touching turns backward to the body. Whilst holding the hackle in position take two wraps of thread tying the hackle off and then wind the thread forward to the eye of the hook through the hackle. Trim the excess hackle with a blade. Stroke the hackle back and build up a neat head of thread. Neat heads Whip finish and varnish the head.

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