Hook - Daiichi Model 1710 Down Eye Wet Fly Hook (Size 14)
Thread - Pearsall's Gossamer Silk (Light Gray) / Waxed with Shuck Wax
Hackle - Grizzly Hen "Knee" Hackle (*)
Spun Body - Hare's Pole spun on Brown Pearsall's Silk
(*) special note - I have no idea why these hen hackles were labeled "Knee" hackle. Perhaps they come from the thigh region of a chicken. I bought these from a discount bin, at the Catskill Fly Fishing Museum, during the February 2019 Fly Fest event. Dana pointed them out, and I bought several small bags of these feathers. After tying with them, I really happy with these feathers. (Thanks Dana!)
PROCESS OF CREATING THE SPUN BODIES
Close up view of the hare's poll dubbing, after blending in a coffee grinder (pulse...pulse...pulse)
PROCESS OF TYING THE FLIES
TYING INSTRUCTIONS:
1) Mount a hook in the vise
2) Wax several inches of you silk tying thread, and attach it to the hook with five firm wraps. Trim off the tag end.
3) Prepare a hen hackle, by stripping off the base fluff. Tie the feather onto the hook, by it's center stem. Leave the feather hanging out over the eye of the hook.
4) Wrap the thread back to the middle of the hook shank.
5) Tie on a spun body (dubbed silk body/Leisenring style). Continue wrapping backwards to the barb of the hook, then wrap the tying silk forward towards the eye of the hook. Stop roughly 1/16" behind where the hackle stem awaits.
6) Wrap the spun body forward to the waiting tying silk. Secure with a couple wraps of the tying silk. Clip off the excess.
7) Clip the tip of the hackle stem, and separate the fibers along each side. Fold the hackle fibers to one side, then wrap back towards the body. Secure the hackle with a couple wraps, and clip off the hackle tip.
8) Whip finish, forming a neat head.
9) Clip off the tying silk.
10) Brush out the body and hackle, with a small piece of velcro.
"Knee Hackle"
This pattern certainly looks deadly. It reminds me of a brown version of the classic Adams pattern.
)