Bodkin / Patterns

Black Prince

Wet Fly · Trout · Intermediate · 2 versions

Classic Recipe

  • Hook Standard wet fly hook, 8-14
  • Thread Black 6/0

Materials

  • Tag Flat gold tinsel (few turns)
  • Tail Scarlet hackle fibres or a red duck-quill section (short)
  • Body Black floss (tapered)
  • Rib Narrow gold tinsel (4-5 turns)
  • Hackle Black hen (beard/collar)
  • Wing Matched black duck or goose quill (or natural crow) (pair)

How to tie it

  1. Start the black thread and tie in flat gold tinsel at the bend; take a few turns to form a bright tag, then tie off.
  2. Tie in a short scarlet tail (hackle fibres or a slip of red duck quill) directly over the tag.
  3. Tie in the narrow gold ribbing tinsel, then wind a smooth tapered body of black floss forward, stopping short of the eye.
  4. Spiral the gold rib forward in 4-5 even turns and tie off.
  5. Tie in a black hen hackle and wind a sparse collar, or apply as a beard beneath the shank.
  6. Set a matched pair of black duck/goose quill slips low over the body as the wing, curving down; build a neat head, whip finish and varnish.

Other versions

1 more in the app: Gregg Dressing (1940).

Tying videos

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