Bodkin / Patterns

Red Ass Kelso

Wet Fly · Trout · Grayling · Beginner · 1 version

Reference Recipe

  • Hook Wet fly / down-eye, 12-16
  • Thread Red 8/0 (70 denier)

Materials

  • Red thread Red thread (tail and head)
  • Peacock herl Natural peacock herl (2-3 strands)
  • Hen hackle Brown hen hackle (1 feather)

How to tie it

  1. Start red thread behind the eye and run it to the bend.
  2. Build a short stub of red thread wraps at the bend as a stubby red tail.
  3. Tie in 2-3 peacock herls, twist them into a rope with the thread, and wrap forward to the 75% mark for a durable body.
  4. Tie in a brown hen hackle by the tip, take 2 soft turns, then sweep the fibers back and pin them with thread.
  5. Build a deliberately bold red thread head, the bright red head is the signature, then whip finish and cement.

Tying videos

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