Heritage-Angler wrote:
My current hook of choice is a Tiemco 2488 in sz 22. That hook is short shank, with a nice wide hook gap. Using a sz 22 gives you the shank length of a sz 24 dry fly hook. If you're using Tiemco 101's or 100's, use a sz 26 hook. Those hooks are slightly longer in shank length, so by using a sz 26, you get the shank length of a sz 24.
The real bugs are 4.5mm in body length (a true sz 24). I didn't make this up - this figure comes from entomologists that have measured the trikes.
If the pattern calls for tails and spent wings, shoot for 1 cm in wingspan, and 1 cm in tail length. Again, this is what the bug experts said.
As far as the color of the abdomen, keep this in mind. The first spinners to hit the water are females, followed by males and females, and finally all males.
I'd suggest tying only females, and carrying a black sharpie marker. To make a female into a male, just touch the sharpie to the thread abdomen of a female fly, and you have an instant male trico.
A really close match in color for the female abdomen is Griffith's Sheer 14/0 thread in primose color.