Bodkin / Patterns

Crystal Killer

Nymph · Trout · Intermediate · 2 versions

Reference Recipe

  • Hook 3XL streamer hook, 6-12
  • Thread Black 6/0

Materials

  • Weight Lead-free (8-12 wraps (optional))
  • Tail Ring-neck pheasant tail fibers (1 bunch)
  • Body Peacock, olive, purple or red herl (crystal/estaz chenille)
  • Hackle Grizzly or matching hackle (1 saddle, palmered)

How to tie it

  1. Mount the hook, start thread, and optionally add 8-12 wraps of lead-free wire over the front half for weight.
  2. Bind a bunch of pheasant tail fibers as the tail, one shank length long. The pheasant tail replaces marabou and gives this Bugger spin-off its signature stiff, kicking tail.
  3. Tie in a grizzly saddle hackle by the tip at the tail, and tie in the crystal chenille at the same point.
  4. Wrap the chenille forward in touching turns to just behind the eye and secure.
  5. Palmer the hackle forward over the body in 5-6 evenly spaced turns and tie off at the head.
  6. Sweep the fibers rearward and take a few thread wraps to angle them back.
  7. Build a small head, whip finish and cement.

Other versions

1 more in the app: Fly Fish Food Tie.

Tying videos

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