Well, you may be hunkered down during the current east coast snow blizzard. I am. So, I’m goofing around a the fly tying bench.
I have a small bag of really poor-quality peacock herl. Rather than throw them out, I’ve decided to strip them and use the material for fly bodies. When bugs are emerging, I usually have good look with soft hackles, fished as a dropper. So, I’m tying some.
I really like how the quills create a thin body with clear segmentation. Photos up top. Here is the materials list:
- Hook: #18, scud-style, barb pinched
- Tail: Coq de Leon
- Body: stripped peacock quill
- Thorax: peacock herl
- Soft hackle: Hungarian partridge
- Thread: UTC, 70 denier, olive-brown
Stay safe, everyone. Prime trout season is incipient.
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Yup, they are a nice body material by themselves or widely spiraled over contrasting thread body! I always save trimmed herl for stripping with an eraser.
Got it–great advice! I’m new to the technique. I searched online for advice. Took some time, but I’ve got plenty of that today during the blizzard….
Nice looking soft hackles and good use of the peacock herl. I believe if I was limited to one fly to fish it would be the soft hackle. Good day for tying a few up, that is for sure.
Thanks, Sam!