How to tie a Sedgehog

Fish a Sedgehog static as a dry-fly or pull it on a very slow sinking line just beneath the surface where it will cause a fuss and attract attention. Using a size 12 hook will give you a fly for most situations and is more suited to the proportions of the fly.

Material list for the Sedgehog

Hook: Size 12 wet-fly (this size offers the perfect proportion and is easiest to tie)
Thread: Match to colour theme  Wing: Sparse bunches of roe deer hair
Body: Seal’s fur of your colour choice. Try mixes of claret, olive, hare’s ear, fiery brown, Green Peter, amber, orange and brown  Hackle: Light furnace hen

Step 1. Apply thread in front of where the first bunch of hair goes in. A pinch-and-loop locates the hair bunch, and tight thread turns secure the bunch in position.

Step 2. Add a few thread turns directly on to the hook shank then remove the waste ends of hair. With the thread in front of the hair roots, apply a pinch of seal’s fur (red in this example).

Step 3. Dub the fur then wind it on over the hair roots. Each turn should be stroked over the hair roots before the next turn is made to control the position of the hair.

Step 4. The next bunch of deer hair fibres is located immediately in front of the dubbing using a pinch-and-loop and then fixed securely in place with tight thread turns.

Step 5. Again, add thread turns directly on to the hook shank, then trim off the waste hair. Cover the hair roots with a small pinch of Green Peter seal’s fur.

Step 6. Prepare and catch in a third slim bunch of deer hair so the tips are almost level with the previous.

Step 7. Fix the hair in place with tight thread turns wound over the roots and a few directly on to the shank as before.

Step 8. Repeat this process until up to five hair bunches have been added and a  full layered wing has been formed.

Step 9. Select a light furnace hen hackle and strip the soft fibres from its base. Catch it in, then wind on two turns at the base of the wing.

Step 10. Secure the hackle tip with tying thread, then trim off the excess. Add a few more thread turns to position the hackle then cast off the thread with a whip finish.