Bodkin / Patterns

Bumble

Wet Fly · Trout · Grayling · Intermediate · 1 version

Classic Recipe

  • Hook wet fly (e.g. Kamasan B175), 8-14
  • Thread black 8/0

Materials

  • Tail Golden pheasant tippet fibers (optional) (small bunch)
  • Body Claret (or golden-olive / fiery-brown) seal fur or wool (full shank)
  • Rib Fine oval gold tinsel (4-5 turns)
  • Body hackle Two cock hackles palmered together, one black and one claret (colour to match body) (2)
  • Shoulder hackle Blue jay (or blue-dyed guinea fowl) (1-2 turns)
  • Head Black ostrich herl (small)

How to tie it

  1. Lay a thread base and (optionally) tie in a small golden pheasant tippet tail.
  2. Tie in the oval gold rib and the two body hackles (black and claret) by their tips at the rear.
  3. Dub a claret seal-fur body forward, then palmer the two hackles together up the body and lock them down with the rib counter-wound in 4-5 turns. Two palmered hackles give the buzzing, mobile 'bumble' look.
  4. Wind a blue jay (or blue-dyed guinea) shoulder hackle as a soft collar and sweep it back.
  5. Whip finish a small black head and cement.

Tying videos

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