The Air Head
Posted by nwflytyer on July 15, 2012
Here is another fun fly from the creative mind of Gary LaFontaine.
The Air Head
The Air Head is an attractor pattern. Utilizing clear packing foam, it is a bright fly; in fact, sometimes perhaps a little too bright. I have seen it pull trout from a good distance only to suffer a last second refusal. The way to combat this problem is to simply drop a small nymph or emerger 18″ behind the Air Head. The Air Head now becomes a hooked strike indicator.
Why carry the Air Head?
1. It is a strong attractor
2. It floats like a cork and can easily suspend a trailing fly.
3. It is easy to tie
4. Bonus: panfish love this fly! Try it on a standard size 16 or tie it on a light wire scud hook in sizes 12-14.
Enjoy!
The recipe:
Hook: Dry fly #8-18
Body: Fine fur dubbing, color of choice (original was mink in various colors)
Wing: Deer hair extending just beyond hook bend (again, color can vary)
Head: Bullet head of clear packing foam creating foam spikes that cover the wing and extend beneath the shank.
Northwest Fly Tyer 
Stephen Finch said
Thank you! I now know the trick of putting the foam on. Before I kept trying to cut six strips, and nothing worked. Many thanks and much appreciation, because, as you know, this silly fly works beautifully.
nwflytyer said
I’m glad this helps you, Stephen! It was a trick described by Gary in later videos…much quicker and a little easier to get a better balance to the wing. Enjoy!