Bodkin / Patterns

Dark Mackerel

Wet Fly · Trout · Intermediate · 1 version

Classic Recipe

  • Hook wet fly / spey single (or double), 8-10
  • Thread red 8/0

Materials

  • Tail Golden pheasant tippet dyed hot orange (small bunch)
  • Body Black seal fur or red holographic tinsel (full shank)
  • Rib Gold wire (or oval gold) (4-5 turns)
  • Body hackle Claret cock hackle palmered (1)
  • Wing Bronze mallard (matched slips)
  • Front hackle Claret hen (1-2 turns)
  • Head Red buzzer wrap (small)

How to tie it

  1. Lay a red thread base and tie in a small tail of hot-orange golden pheasant tippet.
  2. Tie in the gold rib, then wrap the body of black seal fur (or red holographic tinsel for a modern flashy version) along the shank.
  3. Palmer a claret cock hackle over the body following the gold rib in 4-5 turns, then stroke the fibers back.
  4. Set matched bronze mallard slips low as the wing, sloping to the bend.
  5. Wind a claret hen front hackle as a soft collar/beard, then whip finish a red head and cement.

Tying videos

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