Bodkin / Patterns

Bullet Head Skwala

Dry Fly · Trout · Intermediate · 1 version

Reference Recipe

  • Hook 2XL long dry-fly hook, 8-12
  • Thread Olive 6/0

Materials

  • Body Olive-tan material (Fine dubbing or thin foam)
  • Rib Brown permanent marker (Fine wire)
  • Underwing Amber vinyl rib medium (Pinch of Antron)
  • Wing / Back Natural deer (Small clump)
  • Bullet Head Natural deer (Butts of the wing clump)
  • Legs Brown barred rubber legs (One pair rubber legs)

How to tie it

  1. Mount the hook and start the thread at the 70% mark, base-wrapping to the bend.
  2. Dub a slim olive-tan body forward to the 65% mark, skwalas run lean and low, so keep it sparse.
  3. Counter-wrap the brown wire rib in 5-6 turns and bind off.
  4. Add an amber Antron underwing, then a clump of deer hair with the tips reaching one shank length past the bend for the flat wing.
  5. Fold the forward butts back and lock them at the 65% mark into a compact bullet head, then figure-8 a pair of brown rubber legs across the tie-down.
  6. Form a small collar, dam the thread behind the eye, and whip finish.
  7. Trim the wing just past the bend so the fly rides flush.

Tying videos

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