Bodkin / Patterns

Elden's Pteronarcys

Dry Fly · Trout · Intermediate · 1 version

Classic Recipe

  • Hook 3XL-2XL dry / stonefly hook, 4-8
  • Thread orange or black 6/0 6/0 (140 denier)

Materials

  • Body Orange Zelon (spun/dubbed buoyant) (1 clump)
  • Underbody/Hot spot Orange for the underside (-)
  • Wing Mottled EP fibers (originally elk, then bear hair) (1 clump)
  • Legs Black/barred rubber legs (2 pairs)
  • Hackle Brown/grizzly dry-fly hackle (optional) (1 feather)

How to tie it

  1. Start thread and spin/dub a fat, buoyant orange Zelon body up the shank - Elden settled on Zelon because it is very buoyant and fast to tie.
  2. Keep the underside bright orange to imitate the female salmonfly's orange belly.
  3. Tie in a down wing of mottled EP fibers over the body, extending to about the bend, to imitate the folded adult wings.
  4. Add a pair of rubber legs on each side for a fluttering, struggling look.
  5. Optionally wind a brown/grizzly hackle at the front for extra flotation and a leggy silhouette.
  6. Build a head, whip finish, and cement.

Tying videos

← All fly patterns