Bodkin / Patterns

Cormorant Traffic Light

Dry Fly · Trout · Intermediate · 1 version

Classic Recipe

  • Hook wet/nymph hook (Kamasan B175), 10-12
  • Thread black 8/0

Materials

  • Tag/butt Fluorescent red floss or tinsel (the 'stop' light) (few turns)
  • Mid-body Fluorescent amber/yellow tinsel (few turns)
  • Front body Fluorescent green tinsel (the 'go' light) (few turns)
  • Rib Fine silver wire (1 length)
  • Wing Black marabou (slim) (small bunch)

How to tie it

  1. Start thread and tie in fine silver wire at the bend.
  2. Wind a short butt of fluorescent red at the tail, then amber in the middle, then fluorescent green toward the front so the body reads red-amber-green like a traffic light.
  3. Counter-rib the silver wire forward through the three colours in 4-5 even turns and tie off; the rib also protects the floss.
  4. Tie in a slim black marabou wing about one and a half shank lengths long, kept sparse.
  5. Build a small black head, whip finish, and varnish.
  6. The three fluorescent bands are the whole hook: a multi-colour attractor for when a single colour is refused.

Tying videos

← All fly patterns