Wood duck flank Natural barred wood duck flank (Two bunches, one for tail, one for wing/wingcase)
Ultra wire Copper brown (Brassie size) (One length for the body)
Peacock herl Natural peacock herl (2 strands for thorax)
How to tie it
Start the thread at the rear, hanging about even with the barb.
Strip the fluff from a wood duck flank feather, even up a good bunch of fiber tips, and tie in a tail about a quarter inch long on top of the shank.
Bind the wood duck butts along the top of the shank about halfway up and trim, keeping everything one even diameter so the wire body comes out smooth.
Tie in copper-brown Brassie wire along the near side of the hook over the bound butts, keeping it parallel with the shank.
Wrap the wire forward in tight touching turns, each coil snugged back into the last, to form a smooth even body over the rear two-thirds; helicopter off the excess.
Even up a second bunch of wood duck fibers and tie it in right in front of the body with the tips reaching rearward exactly to the end of the tail. That length match is the key to the fly.
Tie in two peacock herls in front of the wing and take two or three wraps as a thorax; tie off and trim.
Pull the wood duck butts forward over the peacock like a wingcase and secure them right behind the eye.
Sweep the remaining fibers back toward the tail, wrap over them to form the head, whip finish, and cement if desired.