Bodkin / Patterns

Alder Dry Fly

Dry Fly · Trout · Intermediate · 1 version

As tied by Savage Flies

  • Hook dry fly, 12-14
  • Thread black

Materials

  • Body Peacock herl, 2-3 strands
  • Wing Bronze mallard feather (natural or dyed dark)
  • Hackle Black dry fly hackle

How to tie it

  1. Catch in black thread about halfway down the shank of a size 14 dry fly hook.
  2. Catch in two or three strands of peacock herl, back to about where the bend starts, and leave the thread about halfway up the body.
  3. Wrap the herl up the shank without spinning it into a rope, letting the thread hold it together, and stop a couple of eye lengths back; add a couple of extra wraps to secure it.
  4. For the wing, take a clump of bronze mallard (natural or dyed dark), bunch the tips together (lick the fingers and roll them if needed) and tie it in a little longer than the hook bend.
  5. Clear the area in front of the wing to leave room for the collar hackle.
  6. Select a black dry fly hackle sized to about one and a half hook gaps and tie it in just in front of the wing, leaving room for four or five wraps.
  7. Wind the hackle forward, not heavily, just enough to help it float.
  8. Add a couple of extra wraps to make room for the whip finish, whip finish, and add the smallest drop of head cement.

Tying videos

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