The Grass Carrying Wasp is an abundant wasp both in the Midwest as well as in the North East. If you fish water that is near forest edges, meadows, or gravel banks there are probably wasps present. There are around five species of Grass Carrying Wasps here in Ohio. They have a distinct teardrop shaped abdomen and a thorax that supports six robust legs. The waist that separates the abdomen from the thorax is quite thin and on the adults measures around 6-8 millimeters.
Wasps can be a very effective pattern in the mid to late summer months and into the fall. I usually tie my wasp patterns on emerger hooks primarily because the partially sunken abdomen seems to evoke a heart stopping slashing takes. I also believe that when the wasp is stuck in the surface film it bends its abdomen downward while the legs struggle to help take flight out of the surface film.
above: An abdomen built up starting with a black quill wrapped around a thread tear drop profile. Then UV glue built up around the quill to slowly develop the abdomen geometry. The waist is also coated to make a smooth transition.
Hook: TMC 212Y #12-16
Thread: Veevus 14/0 Black
Abdomen: Black quill wrapped around a thread profile then coated with Loon UV Flow
Thorax: Fine dubbed Beaver Belly
Legs: Black dyed knotted pheasant tail
Hackle: Black hackle colllar
Wings: Black hen tips
Knotted pheasant tail (natural) legs tied into thorax area and hen tip wings added dyed black.
Black hackle collar wrapped in a crisscross pattern around thorax area and one final turn just behind the hook eye.
This is a simple and effective pattern to tie. The abdomen can also be simply dubbed or a single black dyed peacock quill can be wrapped around a thread profile and UV glue can then be used to create a glossy transparent shell either works equally well. I have a lot of fun tying these up...equally I have a lot of fun catching big Browns on them!
~Clint Joseph Bova
