Meal Ready to Eat

“M.R.E.”

Here’s a quick and easy one, folks. I learned of this fly from fellow GBF member and friend Tom Ross. Its originator is Bob Christensen of New Mexico. The acronym “M.R.E.” stands for “Meal, Ready to Eat.”

Those of us who have served in the military remember (with horror) those “turd in a tin” excuses for food. The M.R.E. is a good searching pattern, and also a good fly to put on during a caddis hatch. Give it a try—you’ll like it. I recommend that you don’t, however, try the military version unless you have a cast iron stomach.

Materials

Hook:	Daiichi 1250 or other 1x long nymph hook, #16
Thread:	For the body of the fly, olive 6/0 or 8/0, or 70 denier flat nylon Ultra Thread; for the collar, orange 6/0
Bead:	Gold or brass 3/32” bead
Weight:	5 wraps of .010” lead
Wing:	Bleached coastal deer hair or light elk
Abdomen:	Slip of turkey wing
Thorax:	Peacock herl wrapped around 1 strand of olive crystal flash
Collar:	Orange thread (see above)

Tying instructions

1. Smash the hook barb (if there is one). Slip the bead on the hook and wrap 5 turns of .010” lead at the thorax area. Force the lead into the bead hole.

2. Start the thread behind the lead and wrap over the lead to secure it. Wind the thread back to a point just above the back end of the barb.

3. Tie in a slip of turkey wing feather at that point and wind the thread back to the bead.

4. Spiral wrap the turkey up the shank to form the abdomen, and tie it off.

5. Tie on a small bunch of the bleached coastal deer hair, or light elk (around 20 hairs is sufficient) about 1/8” behind the bead for the wing. The tips should extend about ¼ shank length behind the bend of the hook. Clip the butts.

6. Tie on some peacock herl and a single strand of olive crystal flash at the base of the wing. Use at least two herls. Twist the herls and crystal flash into a rope, and wrap the rope forward to the bead and tie it off. Whip finish.

7. Tie on the orange thread just behind the bead and form a small orange collar. Whip finish again.

Now do what Tom Ross does—catch a lot of trout with this little gem.

Copyright 2005 by Granite Bay Flycasters unless otherwise noted.