Bodkin / Patterns

Badger (Dry)

Dry Fly · Trout · Grayling · Intermediate · 1 version

Classic Recipe

  • Hook Standard dry fly, fine wire, 16-17
  • Thread Mulberry Pearsall's Gossamer or 8/0

Materials

  • Tag Red tinsel (2 turns)
  • Body Finch-yellow floss (as needed)
  • Rib Peacock herl, wound from the eye (1 herl)
  • Hackle Badger cock (1 feather)

How to tie it

  1. Start the mulberry silk behind the eye and wrap to the bend. Wind two turns of red tinsel as a tag at the tail.
  2. Wrap a slim body of yellow floss two-thirds up the shank.
  3. Tie in a peacock herl at the front and rib it BACKWARD over the floss toward the tail in 4-5 open turns, then counter-wrap the silk back through it. R.S. Austin's trick, which locks the fragile herl so a tooth can't unravel it.
  4. Return the thread to the front.
  5. Wind 4-5 turns of badger cock hackle at the head, the black center and cream edge give the strong footprint and dark thorax silhouette.
  6. Whip finish and varnish the head.

Tying videos

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