Bodkin / Patterns

Cottonwood Seed

Dry Fly · Carp · Panfish · Intermediate · 1 version

Reference Recipe

  • Hook Standard dry fly hook, 10-14
  • Thread White 8/0

Materials

  • Body White uni stretch (spun deer hair or white poly yarn)
  • Puff White uni stretch (CDC or poly fibers)

How to tie it

  1. Mount the hook and start white thread at the midpoint of the shank.
  2. Spin a small clump of white deer hair around the shank, or figure-8 in a ball of white poly yarn, to form a loose fluffy tuft.
  3. Pack the hair back tight so it flares into a round, seed-like puff.
  4. Trim the puff into a rough sphere about a hook-gap wide, leaving it scruffy so it traps air and floats high.
  5. Add a few wisps of white CDC on top for extra float and a lifelike drifting look.
  6. Build a small head, whip finish, and keep it dense enough to sit up on the surface.

Tying videos

← All fly patterns