Bodkin / Patterns

Hot Bead Soft Hackle Ray

Nymph · Trout · Intermediate · 1 version

Classic Recipe

  • Hook Wet-fly / nymph hook, Kamasan B175 or Tiemco 3761, #10-14, #10-14
  • Thread Black 8/0 / 70 denier

Materials

  • Hook Wet-fly/nymph hook, Kamasan B175 or Tiemco 3761, #10-14 (1)
  • Bead Fluorescent hot orange (or fl. red) brass/tungsten bead (1)
  • Thread Black UTC 70 denier (-)
  • Body Peacock herl (or black holographic tinsel over a black thread base) (2-3 herls)
  • Rib Fine copper wire (to protect the herl) (1 strand)
  • Hackle / collar Natural brown or grey Hungarian partridge feather (1 feather)

How to tie it

  1. Slide a fl. hot orange bead to the eye. Start black thread behind the bead and run a base to the bend.
  2. Catch in a strand of fine copper wire at the bend, then tie in 2-3 strands of peacock herl by the tips.
  3. Twist the peacock herl into a rope with the thread and wrap it forward to just behind the bead to build a plump iridescent body; tie off.
  4. Counter-rib the body with 4-5 open turns of copper wire to lock the fragile herl, then helicopter off the excess wire.
  5. Tie in a partridge feather by the tip just behind the bead and take one or two turns to make a soft, mobile hackle collar; stroke the fibers back so they sweep toward the bend and tie off.
  6. Build a small thread collar, whip finish and cement so the hot bead sits as the head.

Tying videos

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