Tie the American Express

Time Well Spent June 4, 2024

This wonderfully proportioned lure from Welshman Alun Rees has a dark silhouette, sparkle and flash of red. It is a fly that serious sea-trout fishers will love. Alun suggests the fly will “do nicely”, a phrase used in an old American Express advert.
 

Materials

Hook: Size 4-10 Kamsan B800, ¾-1½in aluminium tube, or 25mm Waddington
Thread: Black Rib: Medium silver tinsel Body: Black tying thread
Hackle: Scarlet cock hackle fibres Underwing: Black squirrel
Overwing: Peacock sword fibres Head: Black

Step 1 Fix the hook in the vice, then wrap black tying thread along the shank in touching turns. This will form the first layer of the body.

Step 2 Stop winding the thread before the bend to keep the body short, then tie in flat silver tinsel. Secure the tinsel and wind the thread up the shank

Step 3 Return the thread to the head area, applying touching turns to form a smooth base. Begin winding the tinsel, tightly to stop it slipping.

Step 4 Continue in closely spaced turns to give a “candy bar” effect. At the eye, secure the loose end.

Step 5 Remove the waste tinsel. Select a bunch of dyed red cock hackle fibres. Trim the butts and catch them in at the throat to extend the body length.

Step 6  Take a small bunch of black squirrel tail and remove broken hairs. Catch it in so the tips extend past the bend, then secure with tight thread wraps.

Step 7 Cut a length of peacock sword quill, keeping individual fibres on the stem. This makes the fibres manageable when tying and prevents twisting.

Step 8 Place the peacock swords on top of the wing to create a cloak over the squirrel tail, keeping the ends of the swords shorter than the squirrel hair.

Step 9 Secure the peacock swords, then trim off the waste. Tie off neatly and add a whip finish. Finally, give the head two coats of varnish.