Bodkin / Patterns

Red Pirate

Salmon/Steelhead · Salmon · Steelhead · Intermediate · 1 version

Classic Recipe

  • Hook Blind-eye or up-eye classic salmon fly hook, 4 and smaller
  • Thread Black 8/0

Materials

  • Tag Silver twist and blue floss (as needed)
  • Tail Golden pheasant topping (1)
  • Butt Black herl (few turns)
  • Body Flat silver tinsel in three sections, each butted with black herl and set with Indian crow (two or three per side, above and below) at each joint (full shank)
  • Wing Five golden pheasant toppings (5)
  • Horns Amherst pheasant (1 per side)
  • Head Black herl (few turns)

How to tie it

  1. Wrap a tag of silver twist and blue floss over the barb, then tie in a golden pheasant topping for the tail. Form a black herl butt.
  2. Wind the body in three equal sections of flat silver tinsel; butt each section with black herl and set two or three Indian crow feathers sideways above and below at each joint so the fly is jewelled with red.
  3. Arch five golden pheasant toppings over the body as a glowing wing.
  4. Add Amherst pheasant horns, form a small black herl head and whip finish.

Tying videos

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