Bodkin / Patterns

Helmsdale Doctor

Salmon/Steelhead · Salmon · Steelhead · Advanced · 1 version

Classic Recipe

  • Hook Blind-eye or up-eye classic salmon fly hook, 1/0-6
  • Thread Black 8/0

Materials

  • Tag Silver twist and yellow silk (as needed)
  • Tail Golden pheasant topping and Indian crow (1 topping + 1)
  • Butt Black herl (few turns)
  • Body Flat silver tinsel (full shank)
  • Rib Oval silver tinsel (5-6 turns)
  • Hackle Light green hackle from the halfway point, palmered (1)
  • Throat Part of the green hackle swept down (collar)
  • Wing Golden pheasant strands, peacock herl, swan dyed red and yellow, and a topping (1 mixed wing)
  • Sides Large Indian crow (1 per side)
  • Cheek Small Indian crow (1 per side)
  • Horns Blue macaw (1 per side)
  • Head Black wool (small)

How to tie it

  1. Wrap a tag of silver twist and yellow silk over the barb, tie in a golden pheasant topping with Indian crow for the tail, and form a black herl butt.
  2. Cover the shank with flat silver tinsel and counter-rib with oval silver tinsel in evenly spaced turns.
  3. Palmer a light green hackle from the halfway point of the body forward, following the rib, and sweep the front fibres down as a throat.
  4. Build the wing from golden pheasant strands, peacock herl and married red and yellow swan, with a topping over all.
  5. Add large Indian crow sides and small Indian crow cheeks, a pair of blue macaw horns, a small black wool head and whip finish.

Tying videos

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