This flashy blue version of former T&S editor Sandy Leventon’s famous spring salmon fly is tied here on a tube
This four-inch beefed-up version of the Editor uses layers of sparking tinsel few spring salmon could ignore. It is intended to look like a baitfish.
Materials for the Flashy Blue Editor
Tube: Aluminium Thread: White Rib: Fluorescent-green mono Body: Wide opal Mirage tinsel Underwing: Polar Flash, silver and blue-pearl Mirage and blue Mirror Flash Overwing: Black over blue Finnish raccoon Throat: Silver, opal and pearl Krystal Hair and white Finnish raccoon Topping: Silver holographic tinsel Eyes: Jungle cock Head: Fluorescent red
Step 1. Fix the tube on the mount and run the thread down to the silicone. Catch in a length of mono and one of wide opal Mirage. Wind the Mirage to the front of the tube in touching turns.
Step 2. Secure the Mirage with tying thread. Then take hold of the mono and wind it tightly over the body in evenly spaced turns. Trim the waste Mirage and mono, then varnish the body.
Step 3. When the varnish has hardened, run the thread back on. Catch in a long, mixed bunch of Polar Flash, silver and blue-pearl tinsel and blue Mirror Flash so they reach past the rear of the tube.
Step 4. Secure the strands, then double them over so that the top layer of strands is almost twice the length of the first. Fix with more thread turns.
Step 5. Trim the ends of the tinsel underwing to impart a slight taper, then catch in a bunch of blue Finnish raccoon. Top with a longer bunch of black raccoon and blend together with a comb.
Step 6. Next comes the hackle. Rotate the tube 180 degrees and catch in a long, mixed bunch of silver, opal and pearl Krystal Hair so the tips reach almost to the end of the tube.
Step 7. As with the underwing, double the ends of the Krystal Hair over themselves so the longer ends project past the end of the tube. Take a pinch of white Finnish raccoon and catch it in.
Step 8. Secure the white racoon and trim off the waste. With the tube in its original position, catch in a length of silver holographic tinsel on top of the wing then fold it over to form two strands. Add jungle cock cheeks either side of the wing.
Step 9. Secure the jungle cock and trim waste. Then build the head with thread and apply a coat of red paint. Alternatively, use layers of fluorescent red floss to build up a pronounced head.
Step 10. If floss rather than paint has been used, apply two coats of clear varnish to seal the turns. Finally, blend together the bunches of blue and black Finnish raccoon with a small comb.
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