Bodkin / Patterns

Patriot Dry Fly

Dry Fly · Trout · Smallmouth Bass · Intermediate · 1 version

Reference Recipe

  • Hook Standard dry-fly hook, 10-16
  • Thread Red 8/0

Materials

  • Brown hackle fibers Brown hackle fibers (tail)
  • Pearlescent blue Krystal Flash / Flashabou Blue flashabou (body)
  • Red thread band Red thread (mid-body)
  • Calf tail White calf body hair (wing)
  • Brown hackle Brown hackle (1-2 feathers)

How to tie it

  1. Start the red thread at the 75% mark, tie in an upright white calf-tail wing and post its base, then split or leave it as a single upright clump.
  2. Wrap to the bend and tie in a short bunch of brown hackle fibers for a tail about one shank long.
  3. Tie in several strands of pearl-blue Krystal Flash at the bend, wrap the thread forward, then wind the flash forward. Leave a gap at the middle and build a distinct red thread band there, then continue the flash to the wing.
  4. Coat the flash body with a thin layer of head cement or UV resin for durability if desired.
  5. Tie in one or two brown hackles behind the wing and wrap a few turns front and back of the wing for a full collar.
  6. Whip finish at the eye and cement; the red-white-blue theme gives the fly its name.

Tying videos

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