Bodkin / Patterns

Croston's Thread Quill

Nymph · Trout · Intermediate · 2 versions

Classic Recipe

  • Hook barbless jig hook, 14-16
  • Thread tan/olive body thread 10/0

Materials

  • Bead Copper tungsten bead (2.5-3.0mm) (1)
  • Tail Coq de leon fibres (6-8 fibres)
  • Body Built-up tying thread ('thread quill'), coated (as needed)
  • Rib Fine wire or contrasting thread (optional) (1 strand)
  • Collar Natural CDC soft hackle (1 feather)
  • Hot spot Fluorescent orange thread (few turns)
  • Coating Thin UV resin over body (as needed)

How to tie it

  1. Seat the copper tungsten bead behind the eye of the jig hook.
  2. Start thread and tie in a short sparse coq de leon tail at the bend.
  3. Build a slim, tapered 'thread quill' body by wrapping tying thread in smooth layers forward to behind the bead, then coat it with thin UV resin and cure to create a juicy, segmented quill-like sheen.
  4. Wind a small fluorescent orange hot-spot collar right behind the bead.
  5. Tie in a natural CDC feather and take one or two turns as a soft hackle for a living, mobile silhouette.
  6. Whip finish behind the bead and add a touch of varnish to the thread.

Other versions

1 more in the app: Fischer's Flies.

Tying videos

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