Salmon/Steelhead · Salmon · Steelhead · Advanced · 1 version
Classic Recipe
Hook up-eye salmon single, 1/0-4/0
Thread black 8/0
Materials
Tag Gold twist (small)
Tail Golden pheasant crest topping and Indian crow (flat) (1)
Butt Black herl (2 turns)
Body Three equal sections each butted with black herl: 1st dark red-orange silk ribbed fine oval gold with Indian crow above and below; 2nd yellow silk ribbed oval gold with Indian crow; 3rd light blue silk ribbed silver with Indian crow (3 sections)
Throat Jay hackle (1)
Wing Tippet, teal, gallina, golden pheasant tail, parrot, light brown mottled turkey, bustard, red macaw, yellow macaw (or yellow swan for large hooks), two strips mallard above, topping over (married)
Cheeks Chatterer (blue cotinga) (1 per side)
Horns Blue macaw (1 per side)
Head Black ostrich herl (small)
How to tie it
Form a gold twist tag, tie in a golden pheasant crest tail with a flat Indian crow over, and wind a black herl butt.
Build the body in three equal jointed sections, each separated by a black herl butt: dark red-orange silk ribbed fine oval gold, then yellow silk ribbed oval gold, then light blue silk ribbed silver, veiling each joint above and below with a small Indian crow feather. The jointed, crow-veiled body is the Popham's hallmark.
Wind a jay throat hackle and stroke the blue-barred fibers down and back.
Marry the wing from tippet, teal, gallina, golden pheasant tail, parrot, mottled turkey, bustard, red and yellow macaw, with two mallard strips over and a topping arching over all.