Bodkin / Patterns

Claret Jay

Salmon/Steelhead · Salmon · Steelhead · Intermediate · 1 version

Reference Recipe

  • Hook Wet fly / spider hook, 12-14
  • Thread Claret 8/0

Materials

  • Tail Golden pheasant tippet (few fibers (optional))
  • Body Claret mohair (seal's fur or substitute dubbing)
  • Rib Gold middle (fine oval tinsel, 4-5 turns)
  • Hackle Blue jay (one soft feather at throat)

How to tie it

  1. Mount the hook and start claret thread; catch in a few golden pheasant tippet fibers at the bend for a short tail, half a shank long.
  2. Tie in the fine gold rib at the bend and leave it hanging.
  3. Dub a slim, slightly tapered claret body forward, stopping a third of a shank behind the eye.
  4. Counter-wrap the gold rib forward in 4-5 open, even turns and tie off. Counter-wrapping locks the soft dubbing in place.
  5. Tie in the blue jay feather by the tip and take two or three turns as a soft throat hackle, then sweep the fibers down and back.
  6. Build a small head, whip finish, and snip.

Tying videos

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