Bodkin / Patterns

Iron Sally

Dry Fly · Nymph · Trout · Advanced · 5 versions

Classic Recipe

  • Hook Umpqua XC 400 (60-degree barbless jig hook) for the jig version, #10-14. Or a standard 1XL nymph hook (TMC 5262/3761) for the straight version, #10-14
  • Thread Yellow 70 denier / 8-0 (UTC 70 yellow)

Materials

  • Bead Slotted tungsten bead, gold (~3.5mm to match hook). Or copper/black (1)
  • Tails & antennae Goose biots, yellow. A split pair at the tail and a split pair at the head (4 total)
  • Abdomen Wire (UTC Ultra Wire), red medium / copper. Wrapped as the segmented body (6 in)
  • Rib / back strip Thin Skin, black. Laid over the top of the wire body for a dark back and segmentation (1 strip)
  • Wingcase Turkey tail fibers (mottled) (small section)
  • Thorax SLF / Kaufmann dubbing, golden stone (yellow-tan) (pinch)
  • Legs Krystal Flash, black (a few fibers pulled back along the thorax) (3-4 strands)

How to tie it

  1. Slide the gold slotted tungsten bead onto the jig hook, slot forward, and seat it behind the eye. Start the yellow thread behind the bead.
  2. At the tail, tie in two yellow goose biots splayed in a V as the tails (about half a shank long).
  3. Tie in a strip of black Thin Skin and a length of red/copper wire at the tail, both left hanging.
  4. Wrap the yellow thread forward to the 60% point to make a smooth underbody, then wrap the wire forward in touching-to-slightly-open turns to build the segmented abdomen; tie off at 60%.
  5. Pull the black Thin Skin strip flat over the TOP of the wire body to create a dark back with the wire showing as segmentation beneath, and tie it down at the 60% point.
  6. Tie in a section of mottled turkey tail at 60% pointing back over the body (this becomes the wingcase).
  7. Dub a buggy golden-stone thorax from 60% up toward the bead. On each side, fold a few strands of black Krystal Flash back along the thorax as legs.
  8. Tie in two yellow goose biots at the head, splayed forward in a V as antennae.
  9. Pull the turkey-tail wingcase forward over the thorax, tie it off behind the bead, trim, whip finish, and coat the wingcase with a thin drop of UV resin or head cement.

Other versions

4 more in the app: RIO's Morrish, Jigged, Tb, Beadhead.

Tying videos

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