Peacock herl (legs) Natural peacock herl (2 pairs of strands)
Head cement Clear head cement (One drop)
How to tie it
Wrap 0.015 wire over almost the entire shank, start black thread with a dam behind the weight, wrap forward over it, lock it in at the front and take the thread back to the bend.
Pull about 15 long fibres from the butt end of an olive saddle hackle and tie them in at the bend as a tail roughly one shank-length long; secure them forward to the weight and trim.
Tie in a mottled turkey slip at the bend, cut edge toward the hook, just under a hook gape wide, so it lies on top and can be pulled over later; bind the butt forward.
Tie in two fat peacock herls at the bend for the body and leave them hanging.
Take the thread up to about above the hook point and tie in the first pair of legs, lay two peacock strands across the shank and secure them with figure-eight wraps, switching hands with the bobbin and taking your time so they sit out to the sides rather than up or forward.
Move the thread forward a good distance and repeat with a second pair of peacock strands for the front legs. Do not crowd them against the rear pair or you will not get the body wrapped between them.
Take the thread to the front. Leave the legs stuck together for now (separating them first makes wrapping impossible), then wind the two body herls forward through and around the leg tie-in points to the eye, using the wraps to nudge the legs into position; tie off and trim.
Pull the turkey slip forward over the top as a back, check it is centred with two wraps, then lock it in. If it splits a little that is fine.
Prop the turkey up, take a few wraps underneath it and whip finish under the turkey with four turns, then poke your scissors through, let the turkey lay forward and trim it a little long to form the head.
Separate and trim the legs to length with your bodkin or fingers, and put one small drop of head cement underneath, behind the turkey.