Bodkin / Patterns

Brown Drake Nealley

Dry Fly · Trout · Intermediate · 1 version

Classic Recipe

  • Hook Standard dry-fly hook, 8-10
  • Thread Tan / brown 70 denier / 8/0

Materials

  • Tail Moose or brown Microfibetts (few fibres, split)
  • Body Tannish-brown dubbing, slender (over shank)
  • Rib Brown thread or fine wire (segmentation) (1 length)
  • Legs Brown/pumpkin rubber legs (2 pairs)
  • Wing Deer or elk hair, tall upright / poly post (1 clump)
  • Hackle Brown/grizzly dry-fly hackle (1-2 feathers)

How to tie it

  1. Tie in a split tail of moose hair or Microfibetts at the bend, splayed for a good footprint on the water.
  2. Dub a slender tannish-brown body forward over the rear two-thirds, ribbed with thread for segmentation.
  3. Tie in a tall upright wing of deer/elk hair (or a poly post) at the thorax for high visibility on big rivers.
  4. Add a pair of rubber legs each side at the thorax for lifelike movement.
  5. Wind a brown/grizzly hackle through the thorax, tie off and trim the underside flat so the fly sits low.
  6. Build a small head, whip finish and cement.

Tying videos

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