Bodkin / Patterns

Old Joan

Wet Fly · Trout · Intermediate · 1 version

Classic Recipe

  • Hook wet fly / North Country spider, 12-14
  • Thread light orange (Pearsall's silk) silk / 8/0

Materials

  • Body Light orange silk (as needed)
  • Thorax Green peacock herl (1-2 fibers)
  • Wing/Hackle Light brown mottled red grouse (moor-game) feather (1)
  • Head Green peacock herl (1 fiber)

How to tie it

  1. Run a base of light orange silk from behind the eye to the bend, leaving the tag at the tail.
  2. Wind the silk back up to just short of the eye to form a slim orange body.
  3. Tie in a strand of green peacock herl and wrap two or three turns close under where the hackle will sit, forming a small green thorax collar.
  4. Tie in a light brown mottled red grouse feather by the tip, dull side toward you.
  5. Wind the grouse hackle 1.5 to 2 sparse turns spider-style so the fibers sweep back and pulse in the current.
  6. Finish the head with a single turn of green peacock herl, whip finish and trim.

Tying videos

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