Fly Tying: The Howitzer Game Changer 

Yes, typically a wire like intruder wire or berkely wire is used. 40lb is good

Yes, stainless steel

Yes, stainless spring steel

It could be added, but it would make the fly something else and will not work as well. TO EXPLAIN, the # success feature is that the front cup of Howiter head is specifically designed to work with an articulated body and tail of the fly which hangs DOWNWARDS in the water column at roughly a 30-45 degree angle (mimicking a small baitfish rising and "sipping" at the surface). This hanging angle tilts the front cup of the Howitzer upwards to get the optimum angle to pop correctly. The body will hang (sink) downwards because the Game Changer body with its metal articulated shanks has weight which pulls it under. In addition to the "pop" the hanging and undulating gamechanger minnow body is very visible to fish from a distance. A Dragon Tail on the other hand has NO weight and would therefore float on the surface of the water in a horizontal position. The front cup of the head would remain in the same horizontal position and the angle of the cup would remain "nose down" and due to the angle it would therefore not pop as well. Not saying it wouldn't work, but the fly then becomes a floating fly vs. a hanging/popping fly and therefore something that swims and acts a different. A bit technical, but that's how it works. Thanks Martin

​@@FlymenFishing Couldn't you put some weighted wire on the tail or something?

Yes. Although it could be fun on a sinking line! It would likely rise in the water column between strips