Bodkin / Patterns

Greenwell Wet Fly

Wet Fly · Trout · Intermediate · 1 version

Reference Recipe

  • Hook standard wet-fly hook, 12-16
  • Thread primrose/olive 8/0

Materials

  • Tag Gold middle (fine tinsel, a couple of turns)
  • Body Waxed primrose/olive (silk or floss)
  • Rib Gold middle (fine wire)
  • Hackle Greenwell (furnace/coch-y-bondhu) (one, soft collar)
  • Wing Gray starling/blackbird (matched slips)

How to tie it

  1. Mount the hook and lay a thread base to the bend.
  2. Wind a couple of turns of fine gold tinsel for a small tag, then tie in the gold wire rib.
  3. Wind a slim waxed-primrose silk body forward to the 75% mark; the wax darkens it to the classic olive.
  4. Rib the body with 4-5 open turns of gold wire and tie off.
  5. Wind a Greenwell (furnace) hen hackle of 2 turns and sweep the fibers back and down as a beard.
  6. Set matched gray starling wing slips low over the body, tips to the bend, dull sides out.
  7. Form a small head, whip finish, and cement.

Tying videos

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