Bodkin / Patterns

Grey Drake

Dry Fly · Trout · Intermediate · 2 versions

Classic Recipe

  • Hook Long-shank light-wire dry fly, 10-12
  • Thread Grey or olive 8/0

Materials

  • Tail 3 mallard or moose fibers (3)
  • Body White or pale grey floss (as needed)
  • Rib Silver twist or fine oval (4-5 turns)
  • Wing Grey mallard flank (1 bunch)
  • Hackle Dark grizzle cock (1-2 feathers)

How to tie it

  1. Start thread at the bend and tie in three long, splayed tail fibers, one and a half shank lengths long.
  2. Tie in the silver rib, then wrap a smooth white floss body two-thirds up the shank. The pale body with dark ribbing copies the strongly marked abdomen of the grey drake spinner.
  3. Counter-wrap the rib in 4-5 open turns.
  4. Tie in a rolled bunch of grey mallard flank upright at the 70% mark (or divided into two wings), one shank length tall. The barred grey flank is the drake's mottled wing in one material.
  5. Wind a dark grizzle hackle 4-5 turns around the wing base.
  6. Whip finish a small head and varnish.

Other versions

1 more in the app: Gregg Dressing (1940).

Tying videos

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