Hackle fibers (tail) Red hackle fibers (1 thick clump)
Copper wire, medium (one size up from Brassie) Copper wire (8-9 inches)
Rabbit zonker strip (possum, squirrel or muskrat also work) Natural hare s ear dubbing (1 strip, leather cut one shank long)
Hackle fibers (throat) Red hackle fibers (1 medium clump)
How to tie it
Mount a size 6 3X-long streamer hook and start black 140-denier thread somewhere in the back half of the shank, then wrap a base to the bend.
At the bend tie in a thick clump of red hackle fibers for the tail. Make it generous and fairly long, roughly half a shank beyond the bend, so it balances the bulky body. Bury the butts and run the thread to the front.
Catch in about eight to nine inches of medium copper wire just behind the eye and bind it down the full length of the shank to the bend, pulling the wire off to the side for the last couple of wraps so it lies clean. Park the thread up front.
Take a rabbit zonker strip with the hair sweeping toward the rear and trim the leather to about one shank length. Part the hair near the rear of the strip to expose a patch of bare leather, lay it on top at the bend, and lock it there with one tight turn of the copper wire.
Stroke all the hair back and pull the first wire wrap hard up against the tie-in, then wrap the wire forward in touching turns over the leather to just behind the eye. This wire is the entire body.
Secure the wire with several thread wraps, snip it off, flatten the nub, and take a few loose wraps to bury the stub.
Pull the zonker strip forward under tension (the leather stretches, so pull it tight) part the hair to make a flat bare spot, and lock it down on top with a pinch wrap plus several tight wraps at the head. Snip off the excess leather.
Turn the fly over and tie in a throat of red hackle fibers, slightly sparser than the tail, reaching to about the hook point.
Wet your fingers, sweep the fur back out of the way, and build a big streamer head. Whip finish and add a drop of head cement.