Bodkin / Patterns

Lion

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

Classic Recipe

  • Hook Blind-eye or up-eye classic salmon fly hook, 1/0-4
  • Thread Black 8/0

Materials

  • Tag Silver twist and yellow silk (as needed)
  • Tail Golden pheasant topping (1)
  • Butt Black herl (few turns)
  • Body Flat silver tinsel, rear four-fifths; dark scarlet seal's fur well picked out at shoulder (as needed)
  • Rib Oval silver tinsel (5-6 turns)
  • Hackle Natural black hackle (1)
  • Throat Gallina (guinea fowl) (1 collar)
  • Wing Golden pheasant tippet fibres, golden pheasant sword and peacock herl, then yellow macaw, red macaw, bustard, golden pheasant tail, teal, gallina, two strips of mallard above, and a topping (1 mixed wing)
  • Sides Jungle cock (1 per side)
  • Horns Blue macaw (1 per side)
  • Head Black ostrich herl (small)

How to tie it

  1. Wrap a tag of silver twist and yellow silk over the barb, then tie in a single golden pheasant topping tail. Add a black herl butt.
  2. Cover the rear four-fifths of the shank with flat silver tinsel; at the shoulder spin and wrap dark scarlet seal's fur, picking it out well. Rib the tinsel portion with oval silver tinsel.
  3. Wind a natural black hackle through the scarlet fur shoulder and stroke it back.
  4. Add a gallina throat as a beard.
  5. Build the mixed wing: start with a few golden pheasant tippet fibres, the golden pheasant sword feather and peacock herl, then married strands of yellow and red macaw, bustard, golden pheasant tail, teal and gallina, with two strips of mallard above and a topping over all.
  6. Set jungle cock sides, blue macaw horns, form a small head and whip finish.

Tying videos

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