Bodkin / Patterns

Gordon (Salmon)

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 and yellow silk (as needed)
  • Tail Golden pheasant topping (1)
  • Butt Black herl (few turns)
  • Body Rear third yellow silk, front two-thirds claret silk (full shank)
  • Rib Silver lace and flat silver tinsel (5-6 turns)
  • Hackle Claret hackle from the yellow silk, palmered (1)
  • Throat Blue hackle (1 collar)
  • Wing One golden pheasant tippet backed with a sword feather; peacock herl, bustard, swan dyed light blue, light green and red-claret; Amherst pheasant tail and a topping (1 mixed wing)
  • Sides Jungle cock (1 per side)
  • Head Black wool (small)

How to tie it

  1. Wrap a tag of silver twist and yellow silk over the barb, then tie in a golden pheasant topping for the tail and form a black herl butt.
  2. Wind the rear third of the body in yellow silk and the front two-thirds in claret silk; rib with silver lace followed by flat silver tinsel in evenly spaced turns.
  3. Palmer a claret hackle from the yellow silk forward, then add a blue hackle at the throat as a beard.
  4. Build the wing from a golden pheasant tippet backed with a sword feather, veiled with married peacock herl, bustard, light blue/green/red-claret swan and Amherst pheasant tail, with a topping over all.
  5. Add jungle cock sides, a small black wool head and whip finish.

Tying videos

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