Hook Salmon/steelhead hook, or any 1-2XL wet fly hook in smaller sizes, #4-12 (tied on a #8)
Thread Black 70 denier
Materials
Peacock sword fibers (tail, under) Natural peacock herl (Four to six fibers, short)
Mallard flank (tail, over) Natural barred, the darker the better (About 15 fibers, longer than the sword)
Oval tinsel rib Silver, small (medium on larger sizes) (One length)
Peacock herl (body) Natural peacock herl (Five or six strands, brittle tips trimmed off)
Hen feathers (wing) Natural gray or speckled hen feathers (Two small feathers, tied in one at a time)
Hen hackle (collar) Black hen hackle (One soft feather, about four turns)
How to tie it
Mount the hook and put a few thread wraps on the up-turned eye to smooth that transition, then lay a black thread base back to the bend.
Tie in four to six peacock sword fibers (sword, not herl) as the lower half of the tail. Short, and not standing up much.
Build a small thread bump directly in front of the sword fibers so the next component angles upward.
Tie in about fifteen mallard flank fibers over the top, rolled between your fingers to hold them together and set noticeably longer than the sword. To sweeten the curve, lay a bodkin across the top of the fibers, press down with your thumb and pull them over it.
Trim the fluff, tie in small oval silver tinsel at the base of the tail for the rib, and smooth the thread forward to the middle of the shank.
Tie in five or six peacock herls at the midpoint, leaving the thread hanging there. Wrap the herls forward (do not spin them into a rope, the loose herl stays fuller) and let the hanging thread hold them together as they spread. Take the body up to just short of the eye and secure with two wraps.
Counter-wrap the oval tinsel rib forward in four or five turns and tie it off.
Tie in two small speckled hen feathers, one at a time, as an upright wing over the body. Add the second in front of the first and push it back to straighten the pair. A little twist is normal and will be hidden by the collar.
Tie in a black hen hackle by the tip, fold it back, and take about four turns as a soft collar, taking care as the stem thickens. Secure and trim the stem.
Sweep the hackle back with wet fingers, build a neat head, whip finish and cement.