Bodkin / Patterns

Gamebird

Streamer · Trout · Smallmouth Bass · Intermediate · 1 version

Classic Recipe

  • Hook wet fly / soft-hackle hook, #12-16
  • Thread brown, orange, or yellow 8/0 (70 denier)

Materials

  • Body Floss or fine dubbing (or the thread itself) (wrapped slim)
  • Rib Fine wire or tinsel (3-4 turns (optional))
  • Thorax Hare's ear or peacock (small pinch (optional))
  • Hackle Gamebird feather (partridge, grouse, or quail) (1, 1-2 turns)

How to tie it

  1. Wrap a slim body of floss or thread from the bend to about the 80% mark, leaving room for the hackle.
  2. If used, counter-wrap a fine wire or tinsel rib forward in 3-4 turns for segmentation and durability.
  3. Optionally dub a tiny thorax of hare's ear or peacock to bulk the front and support the hackle.
  4. Tie in a soft gamebird feather (partridge, grouse, or quail) by the tip with the curve facing back.
  5. Make just 1-2 turns of the hackle so the fibers stay sparse and mobile, then sweep them back and tie down.
  6. Build a small head and whip finish; the sparse gamebird fibers pulse and 'breathe' like emerging-insect legs.

Tying videos

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