HOW TO TIE THE RED-RIBBED CORMY

Continuing the theme of adding components to the basic Cormorant template, the Red-ribbed Cormy is one that’s worked well over the years.

A size 10 heavyweight wet fly hook is ideal for this type of Cormorant. It suits the length of the fly while containing enough metal to make the fly sink reasonably quickly without adding any extra weight.

While materials such as stripped quill and coloured tinsels are very effective, you may wish to stick with peacock herl. You can either use plain peacock herl or one of the dyed colours – black and claret give the body a nice depth of colour. Peacock herl’s natural iridescence makes it a great material for tying nymphs and the like – unfortunately it’s also quite fragile. For this reason, adding a rib makes sense. This can be clear nylon monofilament or tying thread if you only want the herl to show. Alternatively, a coloured wire adds an extra something.

Hook: Size 10-12 wet-fly

Thread: Black 8/0

Rib: Red wire

Body: Natural or dyed black peacock herl

Wing: Dyed black marabou

Cheeks: Sunburst yellow goose biots

Head: Black Glister or Peacock Lite-Brite (optional)

1. Fix hook in vice and run tying thread to bend. At the bend catch in a length of red wire plus one or two strands of black peacock herl.

2. Wind thread back up shank, covering waste ends of wire/peacock herl. Twist herls slightly then wind along shank in touching turns.

3. When the peacock herl has reached almost to the eye secure loose ends and remove waste. Wind wire along the body.

4. The wire turns should be open and evenly spaced. Once the wire has reached the end of the body secure and remove waste end.

5. Take a few slim marabou fibres and offer them up to the hook so that their tips project a short distance past the bend.

6. Secure marabou wing in place with further thread turns and trim waste clear of the eye. Select two goose biots dyed sunburst yellow.

7. Trim the ends of the biots at an angle to simulate wing buds, then catch them in either side of the wing to form the cheeks.

8. Fold waste ends of goose biots back from the eye then trim them off. Take a small pinch of Black Glister and dub it onto the thread.

9. Apply a couple of turns of the dubbing to create a small but distinct head. Finally, cast off the tying thread with a secure whip finish.