Bodkin / Patterns

Bluebell

Salmon/Steelhead · Salmon · Steelhead · Advanced · 1 version

Classic Recipe

  • Hook Blind-eye or up-eye classic salmon fly hook, 4-8
  • Thread Black 8/0

Materials

  • Tag Silver twist and dark orange silk (as needed)
  • Tail Golden pheasant topping (1)
  • Butt Black herl (few turns)
  • Body Blue silk (full shank)
  • Rib Silver tinsel and silver lace (5-6 turns)
  • Hackle Powdered blue macaw, one side stripped, palmered (1)
  • Throat Yellow macaw (1 collar)
  • Wing Red macaw in strands and two toppings (strands + 2 toppings)
  • Sides Jungle cock (1 per side)
  • Horns Blue macaw (1 per side)
  • Head Black herl (few turns)

How to tie it

  1. Wrap a tag of silver twist and dark orange silk over the barb, then tie in a golden pheasant topping for the tail. Form a black herl butt.
  2. Cover the shank with blue silk and rib it with silver tinsel and silver lace in evenly spaced turns.
  3. Palmer a powdered-blue macaw hackle (stripped one side) over the body, then wind a yellow macaw throat as a beard.
  4. Set red macaw strands for the wing with two golden toppings over the top.
  5. Add jungle cock sides, blue macaw horns, a small black herl head and whip finish.

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