Bodkin / Patterns

Giant Foam Salmonfly

Dry Fly · Trout · Intermediate · 1 version

Reference Recipe

  • Hook 3XL-4XL dry/streamer hook, 4-8
  • Thread Orange 6/0

Materials

  • Body/overbody Orange and black 2mm foam (layered strip)
  • Underbody Burnt orange dubbing (thin)
  • Wing Natural elk or deer hair (one clump)
  • Overwing/indicator Orange poly or foam (small post)
  • Legs Black/orange barred round rubber (2-3 pairs)
  • Hackle Brown hackle (one feather)

How to tie it

  1. Mount the big hook, start thread, and bind a black-over-orange foam strip at the bend so the black shows on top and orange on the belly.
  2. Dub a thin burnt-orange underbody up the shank, then pull the foam forward and lock it down in 3 segments, adding a pair of rubber legs at each tie-down point.
  3. Stack a clump of elk hair for the down-wing, tips reaching just past the bend, and bind it at the front foam segment.
  4. Tie in a brown hackle and palmer 3-4 turns through the front third for flotation and bug-legginess.
  5. Fold a short tab of orange foam over the top as a hi-vis indicator and secure it, leaving a stub head.
  6. Whip finish under the foam head, snip, and trim the rubber legs to a splayed shank length.

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