Bodkin / Patterns

Rusty Rat

Salmon/Steelhead · Salmon · Steelhead · Intermediate · 2 versions

Classic Recipe

  • Hook Salmon single/double, 4-10
  • Thread Red 8/0

Materials

  • Tag Oval gold (small)
  • Tail Peacock sword (3-4 fibers)
  • Body Rear half yellow floss, front half peacock herl (two-part)
  • Veil Yellow floss strand over rear (wisp)
  • Wing Gray fox guard hair (sparse)
  • Hackle Grizzly hackle (collar)

How to tie it

  1. Mount the salmon hook and start red thread at the bend. Wrap a small tag of oval gold tinsel.
  2. Tie in 3-4 peacock sword fibers for a tail over the tag.
  3. Wrap yellow floss over the rear half of the shank, then lay a single strand of yellow floss along the top as a veil extending back over the rear body.
  4. Wrap peacock herl over the front half of the shank to the thorax.
  5. Tie in a sparse gray-fox guard-hair wing on top, lying low over the body.
  6. Tie in a grizzly hackle and take several turns as a collar, sweeping the fibers back.
  7. Form a small head, whip finish and cement.

Other versions

1 more in the app: Joe Penich.

Tying videos

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