Tail Saddle hackle, marabou, or rubber legs (full)
Legs Round rubber legs (2-3 pairs)
Weed guard Heavy mono (optional)
How to tie it
Mount hook, tie in the tail materials at the bend. Saddle hackle, marabou, or rubber legs, extending about one and a half shank lengths.
Add rubber legs alongside the tail.
Now the main event: spinning. Cut a clump of deer hair about a pencil's thickness. Bigger than feels right; Craven's rule is to use a much bigger clump than you think when spinning. Hold it on top of the shank, make two loose wraps, then pull tight and let go. The hair flares and spins around the shank.
Pack the spun clump back hard with a hair packer or your thumb and fingers. Packing density decides everything: how it floats, how it holds shape, how long it lasts.
Repeat (spin, pack, advance) until you reach the eye. 8-12 clumps.
Trim to shape with scissors or a razor: flat popper face for noise, bullet nose for sliding, rounded for diving. Trim the bottom flat and close so the hook gap stays clear.
Leave a few tips unclipped at the rear as a collar. Add a mono weed guard for heavy cover. Whip finish and seal the head.