Published Mar 10. 2009 - 15 years ago
Updated or edited Oct 28. 2024

Shark's Wasp

Bulgarian fly tyer and fly angler Radoslav Kiskinov takes another stab at imitating a terrestrial insect - this time the wasp - and with usual skill he manages to produce a very life-like fly. Bulgarian anglers and Bulgarian fish love it.

A whole lotta wasps - Some Shark's Wasps waiting for the chub's fiesta
Frog's view - A chub that couldn't resist a foam wasp makes its last effort to wriggle free. It will be released after a short trip above the surface
The wasp is a great chub fly
Radoslav Kiskinov

This is a fly that I tied for first time in 2004 and caught many chubs in the Struma river, my home river. The design of the fly is my idea.

It is very efficient pattern and many flyfishermen here in Bulgaria like to fish with it. The chubs here love it. It's fished as a dry fly, and as is always the case with terrestrials fishing on windy days close to the bank or under bushes and trees might do the trick. Land insects blow onto the water all the time, and some fish are keyed in on these "casualties".

I hope your local fish like the Shark's Wasp too.

Tight Lines!

Stung - A Bulgarian chub fell for the wasp pattern
The foam wasp gff
Radoslav Kiskinov
The Shark's Wasp
Pattern type: 
Dry fly
Originator: 
Radoslav Kiskinov
Materials: 
Hook
Mustad 94840 #12
Thread
Black 8/0
Abdomen (rear body)
Yellow Foam and black permanent pen
Thorax (front body)
Black foam
Wings
Brown cock feather tips
Hackle
Brown cock
Skill level/difficulty: 
Medium
Instruction: 
See the images below

Step 1 - tying thread

Step 2 - foam

Step 3 - tie down foam

Step 4 - trim

Step 5 - more foam

Step 6 - wings

Step 7 - pull wings

Step 8 - wing position

Step 9 - secure wings

Step 10 - hackle

Step 11 - wind the hackle

Step 12 - front body

Step 13 - trim

Step 14 - stripes

Step 15 - pattern

For a more impressionistic wasp pattern, you can look at Kasper Muhlbach's Foam Wasp.

Comments

Video...

Hi guys

In this link you can find a short video of the Wasp. I hope you enjoy it:

Best regards!

Rado

Martin Joergensen's picture

Braidedbutt, Unle...

Braidedbutt,

Unless you have some pretty stiff feathers or use some with thick stems (large feathers), I think you will find it difficult to get the stems of the wings through the foam without needle.

Martin

Pardon my ignorance ...

Pardon my ignorance but can someone explain the significance in the nedle in the application of the wings to the fly.My education must be incomplete!

excellent pattern! I...

excellent pattern! I was dreaming only of doing something similar, but did'nt knew were to start. it is a great lesson for me. as soon as I can I will start tying the wasp. wonderful job!

Great fly pattern, r...

Great fly pattern, realistic and easy to tie. I recently tied several of these for a fly tying event. I displayed them on an old wasp nest attached to a small branch. They were a big hit! I directed everyone to your tying instruction on GFF. Thanks again I’ve really enjoyed this fly.

Wow great fly!!!!!, ...

Wow great fly!!!!!, Great tie!!!!!! What size foam is that you use? Foam went and got complicated ha ha. Over here in the states, we call chubs fall fish. A lot of people don't enjoy catching them. I think there all a loon. These fish run just as hard as any Salmonidae.

Martin Joergensen's picture

Derek, A chub is ...

Derek,

A chub is a freshwater fish found in Europe. It's known as Cyprinus cephalus or Leuciscus cephalus in Latin and is a popular quarry in many countries - especially in Eastern Europe. It's found in many streams, grows big (up to almost 2 feet!) and takes flies readily.

You can read more here on GFF as well as on FishBase.org

Martin

Whats a Chub? ...

Whats a Chub?

hi, I am looking ...

hi,
I am looking to by a few of these flies because it is far to hard for me to tie. I am 15 yrs old and not skilled enough (YET) to tie this. please e-mail me at elk_hunter009@yahoo.com if you could help.

Thanks, Tyler

Hello Nice pattern,...

Hello
Nice pattern, but the interessting thing is using the needle to tie in the wings.
Sometimes life can be so easy.
TL
Axel

Hi Tom, they are not...

Hi Tom, they are not afraid at all :) These are the best flies for chubs.

domel's picture

Hello. In similar w...

Hello.
In similar way I make imitation of big ants. I have always wanted to make wasp imitation but I was affraid that chubs would be affraid of taking wasps from surface of water because of possibility of stingig. But now I can see that my fears were groundless.
br
tom

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