Hook Daiichi 1270 curved (straight shank also fine), 10 (down to 14 for a micro version)
Thread Black Semperfli Classic Waxed 12/0
Materials
Pheasant rump feathers Black (green-black sheen) (2, one for tail, one for hackle)
Semperfli Dirty Bug Yarn Black yarn (One and a half strands)
Lateral Scale (Hedron) Mirage opal (One strand for rib)
Velcro or dubbing brush - (For roughing the body)
How to tie it
Start the thread two eye-lengths behind the eye (leave room for the front hackle) and lay an even base back to above the barb.
Strip the fluff from one black pheasant rump feather and tie in a tail of its fibers on top, about one body-length long, with a wrap or two under the tail to support it.
Prepare the second rump feather, measure it from the front of the hook back to just beyond the tail tie-in, and tie it in at the front by the stem, letting it distribute around the shank; bind the stem back and return the thread to the front.
Tie in the mirage opal Lateral Scale at the front and bind it down the shank to the rear.
Split a strand of Dirty Bug Yarn in two and use one full strand plus the half strand; tie both in at the front and bind them back to the tail.
Twist the yarn lightly and wrap it forward, adding one extra turn at the front so the body tapers thicker at the head; tie down very securely and take extra locking wraps.
Brush the whole body out aggressively with velcro, all the way around and especially at the rear, until it looks like seal fur.
Counter-wind the Lateral Scale rib forward in about six open turns plus one at the front, and tie it off well.
Sweep the front pheasant hackle rearward over the body, build a small head over its base to hold it back, and whip finish.
Gently brush or pick out more fur between the rib wraps (carefully, to spare the rib) and finish the head with cement or resin.