Start with your favorite fly. I use a white #16 bead head micro bugger as an example here.
Hook: TMC 5262 or 5263 - barbed.
Thread: Ultra Thread, white, 6/0
Body: x-sm gold ultrawire, over white hackle, over white micro-chenille
Tail: White Marabou and Pearl Flashabou
Tools: Needle-nose pliers with wire cutters; Small sharp scissors (swiss army knife will do); Custom vice. Shot of whiskey, with ice.
You may untie your fly with different materials and colors to match the hatch.
Other hooks can be used, but the longer the hook shank, the better.
Wide gap hooks can also provide some benefits.
Use of barbless hooks renders the following pattern highly ineffective.
Cut the head off the hook. Removing any glue, adhesives, epoxy or tungsten heads.
This aids in the removal of subsequent layers. Unwind the the x-sm gold ultrawire.
Gingerly remove the hackle, as it tends to stick and catch on the underlying chenille.
A pair of small scissors aids in the process.
Trim the tail. Off. Continue to unwind the the thread to remove the underlying marabou.
Once you get to any weighted wire, use the wire cutters to cut along the top and
bottom of the hook, along the long axis of the hook shank, to dissect and dislodge the wire.
This is especially helpful if the under layers are well-glued.
Once the hook is denuded, treat with ice for 3-5 minutes, and apply whiskey, neosporin,
or other ointment of choice to the base of the hook shank. (Do not use head cement, or Zap-a-gap.)
Then using the needle-nose pliers, grip the hook shank, and push the hook tip through using a rotating motion.
It's amazing how tough the skin can be. It seems to enter much easier than it exits.
Continue to push through, past the barb.
Once the barb exits, clip the entire hook tip using the wire cutters.
Removal of the hook is now facilitated.
Re-apply ointment and whiskey as needed. Let dry.