Salmon/Steelhead · Salmon · Steelhead · Advanced · 1 version
Classic Recipe
Hook salmon fly single, up-eye black, 1/0-3/0
Thread black 8/0
Materials
Tag Silver twist and yellow floss silk (1)
Tail Golden pheasant topping and Indian crow (sub: dyed red hen) (1)
Butt Black ostrich herl (1)
Body Black floss silk (1)
Rib Flat silver tinsel and silver lace (1 each)
Body hackle Black cock hackle (1)
Throat Light blue cock hackle (1)
Wing Jungle cock feathers back-to-back, veiled by golden pheasant tippets (2 + 2)
Cheeks Blue chatterer (sub: kingfisher or dyed blue hen) (2)
Topping Golden pheasant crest (1)
How to tie it
Above the hook point, wind a tag of silver twist followed by a short section of yellow floss.
Tie in a golden pheasant topping with a small Indian crow feather over it for the tail, then wind a black ostrich herl butt.
Wrap a smooth black floss body to the 80% mark, ribbing it with flat silver tinsel backed by silver lace in 5 evenly spaced turns.
Tie in a black cock hackle by the tip at the third rib turn and palmer it forward following the rib, the double rib plus hackle gives the Ranger family its barred, mobile flank.
Wind 2-3 turns of light blue hackle at the throat and sweep the fibers beneath the shank.
Set the wing: two long jungle cock feathers back-to-back along the shank, veiled on each side by a pair of golden pheasant tippets tied in tent-style. The tippets' black bars over the jungle cock create the Ranger 'eyed' wing.
Add blue chatterer (or kingfisher sub) cheeks, roof with a golden pheasant topping, form a small black head, whip finish and varnish.