Bodkin / Patterns

Ghost

Salmon/Steelhead · Salmon · Steelhead · Intermediate · 1 version

Classic Recipe

  • Hook Blind-eye or up-eye classic salmon fly hook, 1/0-4
  • Thread Black 8/0

Materials

  • Tag Silver twist (as needed)
  • Tail Jay points back to back (2)
  • Butt Black herl (few turns)
  • Body Rear half thin black silk butted with two turns of silver tinsel and two toppings above and below; front half black ostrich herl (two halves)
  • Hackle Natural black hackle from the centre, palmered (1)
  • Wing Two strips of shoveler duck (1 pair)
  • Horns Blue macaw (1 per side)

How to tie it

  1. Wrap a tag of silver twist over the barb, then tie in jay points back to back for the tail. Form a black herl butt.
  2. Wind the rear half of the body in thin black silk, butt it with two turns of silver tinsel and veil a golden topping above and below, then build the front half with black ostrich herl.
  3. Palmer a natural black hackle from the centre of the body forward.
  4. Set two matched strips of shoveler (shovel) duck low over the body for the wing.
  5. Add blue macaw horns, form a small head and whip finish.

Tying videos

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