Hook - Mustad R50U TUE Hook (Size 14)
Thread - 8/0 UNI-Thread (Lt. Cahill)
Hackle & Wing - Starling Rump Feather (leave center tip in at the end to form wing)
Body - Single Strand of Peacock Herl (Natural)
TYING STEPS:
- Secure hook in the vise.
- Mount thread on hook with 5 firm wraps directly behind the eye of the hook.
- Prepare starling feather and tye in by the center stem, feather facing out over the hook eye.
- Select a strand of peacock herl and tye it in by the middle, with the tip towards the bend of the hook.
- Wrap thread back to the barb of the hook, then forward in five closely-touching turns, forming a small thread tag at the rear of the fly.
- Wrap the peacock herl rearwards in closely-touching turns forming the body.
- Secure peacock herl with two turns of thread, then wind thread forward in open spiral reinforcing the herl.
- Wrap hackle rearward, in two of three wraps. Secure hackle with tying thread and carefully open the hackle pliers (starling hackle is very delicate and it is easy to accidentally break of the hackle tip when removing the pliers).
- Whip finish and add a drop of clear nail polish to finish the head of the fly.
