Mount the barbless Mustad Ultimate Predator 2/0. Start black thread three or four eye-lengths behind the eye, run open wraps back to about the hook point, snip the tag, and take open wraps forward again.
Tie in the Semperfli silver holo tinsel at the rear and wrap it forward in touching, slightly overlapping turns with no gaps for the underbody. Take three or four wraps over the top and three or four in front and cut it off. It only shows as the wing breathes on the strip, which is why it is worth doing.
Underwing: cut a finger-width bunch of white Predator Fiber about four or five inches long. Pull the bunch back and let the fibers run out so it takes a baitfish taper, then square the front off again with the shorter fibers on the bottom.
Wax the shank and the thread again, take a couple of loose wraps then tighten and bind the white bunch down, working the thread forward and back over the butts.
Overwing: slightly less blue Predator Fiber, tied a little longer, tapered the same way. Wax again and bind it in tight, building a little bulk over the front as you go.
Collar: strip the fluff off a large blue teal flank feather, expose the tip and tie it in by the tip, doubling it back so it is locked in. Cut the excess tip out.
Stroke the fibers back and fold them, then wrap with slightly open turns — almost palmering — so the collar comes forward a little without eating the head space. Tie it off tight and cut the stem out.
Whip finish here, cut the thread and put a small dab of superglue on the wraps.
Hot spot: start Semperfli fluoro red classic waxed thread, build a bright red head back to the base of the teal flank and back down again. It is a pure attractor, so make it bold. Finish it off and brush the flank fibers out.
Test-fit the clear Stonfo Soft Head over the front to check where it sits, take it back off, run a good dab of glue right around the thread head and into the base of the feather, then push the soft head on as far as it will go and pinch it.
Set a raised pearl tape eye on each side of the soft head, cover each with a dab of UV resin, roll it around to clear the bubbles and cure it.