Hook Saltwater/streamer hook, standard length, 2/0-2
Thread White 3/0 or GSP
Materials
Tail (rear layer) White saddle hackles (4-6 feathers)
Tail (upper layers) Olive/tan and gray saddle hackles (4-6 feathers)
Flash Pearl and peacock Flashabou (1 small bunch)
Collar / body White and olive bucktail (2 clumps)
Topping Peacock herl or olive Krystal Flash (few strands)
Eyes Stick-on 3D silver (1 pair)
How to tie it
Start thread at the 70% mark and build a base back to just short of the bend.
Tie in a splayed layer of white saddle hackles at the rear for the tail, curving outward, about one and a half shank lengths long, so the layered feathers swim and dive between strips.
Stack olive/tan then gray saddle hackles over the white in ascending layers, each a touch shorter, to build the baitfish's darker back.
Add a few strands of pearl and peacock flash along each side of the tail.
At the front, tie a collar of white bucktail underneath and olive bucktail over the top to bulk the body and blend into the feather tail.
Top with a few strands of peacock herl for the dark dorsal line.
Build a smooth thread head, whip finish, cement, then set stick-on eyes and coat the head with UV resin or epoxy.