How to Tie a Hot Chocolate Chironomid Fly for Stillwater Fishing Success

This fly was inspired by images of live Chironomid and the Shipman’s Buzzer tying style. The tailing suck, simple ribbed body with a Pheasant tail thorax make it a great imitation. The added foam is inspired by the Chocolate Thunder/Lil’ Foamy. It gives the fly a desirable up-and-down motion when fishing. The fish love this motion! This is a great Stillwater option year-round when fishing below the surface.

Step-by-Step Instructions:

Close-up of a Perdijig style hook for fly tying, showing the curved design and the hook's point.
A close-up image of a fishing hook held by a vise next to a spool of fluorescent thread, showing the setup for tying a fly.
A close-up image of a hook secured in a vise, with thread wrapped around the hook shank and a white material positioned underneath.

Start by setting your hook in the vise and begin wrapping the thread. This pattern is tied on an elongated nymph hook. The Tiemco 201R (shown) or Firehole 718 are perfect options. Secure thread wraps using your choice of gray thread.

Close-up view of a person's hand holding a fishing hook with thread and feathers being attached, demonstrating the initial steps of fly tying.
Close-up of a fly tying setup showing a thread wrapped around a hook for fishing, with a focus on fiber material for the fly's body.
Close-up of a person tying a fishing fly, using a pair of scissors and pliers to manipulate materials.

At the tail/shuck to the rear of the hook. Using a small bundle of Antron/Sparkle emerger yarn in White or Creme. Keep the bundle small and allow it to feather. Secure the hank to the hook shank to create the profile of this pattern.

Close-up of a person's hand holding a fly tying tool, with a thread wrapped around a hook.
A close-up of a person tying a fly in a vise, showcasing the thread wrapped around the hook with fine fibers peeking out.
Close-up of a person tying a fly on a vise, showcasing the hook and thread setup.
A close-up of a person's hand holding a fly tying vise with a hook secured in place, showing thread being wrapped around the hook.
Close-up of a hand tying thread onto a nymph hook in a fly tying vise.
A close-up image of a fly tying process showing a hook in a vise with thread wrapped around the shank and a feather tail shuck positioned at the rear.
A close-up image of a nymph fly tied on a vise, showcasing a ribbed body with a pheasant tail thorax, designed for fishing.

Add in the ribbing. Using Micro or Midge-sized Brown Rubber Tubing, secure it the full length of the hook shank. Wrap your thread ahead and cover the yarn and tubing completely to give a slim thread body. Then, wrap the tubing forward, pulling firmly to flatten the material as you progress. Ensure consistent open wraps for the best finish.

A close-up of a person's hand tying a fishing fly, focusing on the hook and threading process.
Close-up of a fly-tying vice holding an elongated nymph hook with a simple ribbed body and a partially completed tail made of Antron yarn, ready for additional materials.
A person holding a piece of foam while preparing to tie a fly on a hook, with a bobbin of thread visible in the image.
Close-up of a fly tying setup showing an elongated nymph hook with a gray thread body, white tail shuck, and materials arranged for tying.

Begin building the thorax for this bug. Add a healthy bundle (10 – 15 fibers) of Brown Pheasant Tail. Leave this hanging out the rear and build a small thread base. Select some 1 mm white foam and trim a small strip. Secure the foam so it extends two to three hook eyes past the front of the fly. Wrap over the material and clip out the rear portion. Ensure you keep a neat thread base, as it will remain exposed when the fly is complete.

Close-up of a fly tying process, focusing on a hook with thread and materials being prepared for a fishing fly, set against a blue background.
Close-up of a fly tying process, showing a partially completed fly with a ribbed body and tail while being held in a vise.
A close-up image of a person tying a fly on a vise, showing a black ribbed body with a pheasant tail thorax and foam extending from the hook.
A close-up image of a person tying a fishing fly, holding a small white foam piece with one hand while grasping the hook with a vise in the other hand.

Pull the Pheasant tail fibers over the top of the thread thorax. Then, secure them over the foam behind the hook eye. This creates a thorax backing for this bug. Trim the butt ends off close to the foam. Be aware that if you clip too close, the material can slip loose. Secure it in place and sneak your thread under the foam.

A close-up image of a hand holding a fly tying vice, with a partially completed fly featuring a simple ribbed body, white foam, and a Pheasant tail thorax.
A close-up of a hand holding a hook and thread with a partially tied fly pattern, featuring a white foam tail and pheasant tail fibers.
Close-up of a tied fly featuring a simple ribbed body, Pheasant tail thorax, and foam tail, designed for Stillwater fishing.
A close-up of a hand tying a fishing fly with a black ribbed body, white tail, and fibers extending from the thorax, using a vise.

Whip finish under the foam and add some glue or cement. Give the underside of the thorax a healthy coating of glue or head cement. If you are inpatient like me Zap A Gap is great. If you want a more elegant finish and have the time, utilize a head cement. Because of the amount of glue used, I clean my eye with a feather. This avoids closing the hook eye. It also prevents the need to clear it out when fishing.

Recipe:

  • Hook – Tiemco 201R Size range 10 – 12
  • Thread – Gray
  • Tail/Shuck – Sparkle Emerger (Polypropylene) Yarn White 
  • Ribbing –  Midge Tubing Brown
  • Thorax Backing – Pheasant Tail Brown

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