Fly-tying

Extremely popular stillwater dry-fly that works from spring to autumn.

Material list for the Yellow Owl

Hook: Size 12-14 standard wet-fly

Thread: Yellow  

Wing: Natural grey CDC  

Body: Yellow stripped peacock quill or Synthetic Quill 

Thorax: Dyed yellow hare’s fur or man-made substitute

Step

Step 1. Fix the hook in the vice and run on the tying thread. Apply close turns of the thread along the shank to form a secure base for the wing.

Step

Step 2. Select three medium-sized CDC plumes, ensuring they contain a large number of soft fibres. Place together so their tips are level.

Step

Step 3. Offer plumes up to hook and catch in so their tips project past the eye. The wing should be roughly the same length as the hook shank.

Step

Step 4. Secure the CDC plumes with tight turns. Trim off the waste ends with scissors to create a taper, then cover them with tying thread.

Step

Step 5. Wind the thread in touching turns down the shank to the bend. Select a stripped peacock quill and catch it in at the bend by its tip.

Step

Step 6. Take thread back up the shank, laying down a smooth bed for the body. Grasp the end of the quill with pliers and wind it to the wing base.

Step

Step 7. Each quill turn should touch the previous turn: no gaps. Secure the end of the quill at the wing base. Remove the waste. Varnish the body.

Step

Step 8. When the varnish has dried, take a small pinch of dyed-yellow hare’s fur and dub it on to the thread. Apply a few turns to form a thorax.

Step

Step 9. Take the thread to the eye and apply a few turns under the wing to give it a slight upward slant. Cast off the thread with a whip finish.

Extremely popular stillwater dry-fly that works from spring to autumn.

Material list for the Yellow Owl

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Hook: Size 12-14 standard wet-fly

Thread: Yellow  

Wing: Natural grey CDC  

Body: Yellow stripped peacock quill or Synthetic Quill 

Thorax: Dyed yellow hare’s fur or man-made substitute

Step

Step 1. Fix the hook in the vice and run on the tying thread. Apply close turns of the thread along the shank to form a secure base for the wing.

Step

Step 2. Select three medium-sized CDC plumes, ensuring they contain a large number of soft fibres. Place together so their tips are level.

Step

Step 3. Offer plumes up to hook and catch in so their tips project past the eye. The wing should be roughly the same length as the hook shank.

Step

Step 4. Secure the CDC plumes with tight turns. Trim off the waste ends with scissors to create a taper, then cover them with tying thread.

Step

Step 5. Wind the thread in touching turns down the shank to the bend. Select a stripped peacock quill and catch it in at the bend by its tip.

Step

Step 6. Take thread back up the shank, laying down a smooth bed for the body. Grasp the end of the quill with pliers and wind it to the wing base.

Step

Step 7. Each quill turn should touch the previous turn: no gaps. Secure the end of the quill at the wing base. Remove the waste. Varnish the body.

Step

Step 8. When the varnish has dried, take a small pinch of dyed-yellow hare’s fur and dub it on to the thread. Apply a few turns to form a thorax.

Step

Step 9. Take the thread to the eye and apply a few turns under the wing to give it a slight upward slant. Cast off the thread with a whip finish.

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