The Fat Albert is a foam-bodied terrestrial dry fly built around stacked foam, rubber legs, and a high-visibility wing post. Tim Flagler’s tightlinevideo tutorial demonstrates a version tied in sizes 6 through 12 on a 3X-long dry fly hook.

Construction starts with two strips of 2mm foam—tan on the bottom, brown on top—tapered at the ends and tied in together at the bend. A thin coat of tan Superfine dubbing is wrapped forward to the midpoint, then the foam is folded forward and segmented with two tight thread wraps. A pair of medium round rubber legs barred yellow and black is tied in on each side at that point. The dubbing and fold-forward sequence is repeated to the two-thirds mark, where another pair of rubber legs is added. A bundle of white poly yarn forms the wing, and a small piece of fluorescent orange 2mm foam is tied in on top as a sighter. The fly is whip finished behind the eye, then the foam head and leg tips are trimmed to length.

The stacked foam construction keeps the fly riding high, and the orange post on top makes it easy to track on the water. Sizes 6 through 12 give the tyer flexibility across a range of terrestrial profiles.

Tying materials
Hook: 3X-long dry fly hook (e.g., TMC 5263), sizes 6–12
Thread: 140 denier, brown
Body: 2mm fly foam strips, tan and brown
Underbody: Tan Superfine dubbing
Legs: Medium round rubber legs, barred yellow/black
Wing: White poly yarn or McFlylon
Indicator: Small piece of fluorescent orange 2mm foam