Salmon/Steelhead · Salmon · Steelhead · Advanced · 1 version
Classic Recipe
Hook salmon fly single, up-eye black, 4-5 (classic salmon sizing)
Thread black 8/0
Materials
Tag Gold and silver twist (1)
Tail Two golden pheasant toppings (2)
Body Orange pig's hair dubbing (sub: orange seal sub) (1)
Rib Gold and silver twist (1 each)
Body herl Black ostrich herl over body (1)
Shoulder hackles Scarlet/blood-red hackle and purple hackle (1 each)
Underwing Two shoveler duck flank feathers (2)
Wing Four golden pheasant toppings (4)
Cheeks Blue chatterer (sub: kingfisher) (2)
Sides Silver pheasant tail strips (2)
How to tie it
Wind a tag of gold and silver twist above the hook point and tie in two golden pheasant toppings as the tail.
Dub a full body of orange pig's hair (or coarse orange seal sub) to the 75% mark and rib it with both gold and silver twist in 5 open turns.
Tie in a black ostrich herl and counter-wind it up the body alongside the rib, the dark herl over hot orange gives the fly its smoldering, buggy silhouette.
At the shoulder wind a scarlet (blood-red) hackle, 2-3 turns, then a purple hackle in front of it, sweeping both down and back.
Set two shoveler duck flank feathers as an underwing, then roof them with four golden pheasant toppings curving to the tail tip.
Add blue chatterer cheeks and a slim strip of silver pheasant tail low on each side, slightly under the wing.