The following flies were tied during a fly tying session held in March 2007. (Back to Fly Tying page)

Active Spinner

Hook: Size 10-12 Long Shank (Natural Nymph hooks are good)
Thread: Black 6/0 or 8/0
Tail: 4-5 Pheasant Tail Fibres
Tag: Pheasant tail
Body: White or Cream wool or tapestry thread
Hackle: Natural Squirrel tail

1. Attach the thread and run to the point above the barb in touching turns.
2. Select 4-5 pheasant tail fibres and attach as the tail using pinch & loop. Tie it in long 1¼ times the body length.
3. Wind the thread forward approx 3-4 mm, and let the bobbin hang.
4. Wind the remaining pheasant tail forming a tag. Secure with the thread and trim.
Tie in the body material then take the thread forward to the point 3-4 mm before the eye.
5. Wind on the body material in touching turns and then secure & trim when you reach the thread.
6. Select a bunch of squirrel hair and tie in as the wing, leaving a stub at the front.
7. Pull back the stub and underneath it whip finishing.
8. Trim the stub if required and varnish if you wish.

Walkers Mayfly Nymph

Hook: Size 10-12 Kamasan B175 (weighted with lead)
Thread: Black 6/0 or 8/0
Tail: 3-4 Pheasant tail fibres
Body: White or Cream wool / Tapestry thread
Tag: Pheasant tail
Thorax Cover: 8-11 pheasant tail fibres
Thorax: As per body, and folded back as legs.

1. Attach the thread and weight the hook in the thorax area.
2. Run the thread to the point above the barb in touching turns.
3. Select 3-4 pheasant tail fibres and attach as the tail using pinch & loop.
4. Tie in the body material and let it hang for now.
5. Take the thread forward about 5 mm securing the pheasant tail as you go.
6. Wind the body material up to the thread and secure with 1-2 wraps only.
7. Form a stripe on the body by winding the remaining pheasant tail around just once. Ensure the body material is in front of the pheasant tail herl.
8. Secure & trim the pheasant tail then continue wrapping the body to the thorax area.
9. Prepare a larger bunch of pheasant tail (10-11) for use as the thorax cover and secure with the tips facing towards the barb. Size so that when pulled forward and secured underneath and on the side it simulates legs.
10. Form the thorax using the body material and remaining herl then secure and trim.
11. Pull the thorax cover forward and secure at the eye.
12. Split the remaining thorax cover into two equal bunches. Pull this underneath and to the side of the fly to form legs and secure.
13. Whip finish and varnish.

Grey Wulff

Hook: Size 12-16 Kamasan B170
Thread: Black colour 6/0 or 8/0
Wing: Squirrels tail
Tail: Red game hackle fibers
Body: Grey rabbits fur
Hackle: Red game hackle tied either side of wing.

1. Attach the thread and tie in a bunch of squirrel hair facing forward over the eye. Do not tie to close to the eye as later you will need to form the wings.
2. Step cut the squirrel hair to aid the tapered body then run the thread to the point above the barb covering the squirrel hair butts as you go.
3. Select 5-8 game hackle fibres and attach as the tail using pinch & loop.
4. Dub the thread with the rabbit fur or hairs ear and form a tapered body stopping 2/3 of the way up the hook shank.
5. Pull the squirrel tail up and wrap 2-3 turns underneath to lift the wing up.
6. Now split the wing into two and form two wings using figure of eight wraps. If required trim the wings once formed to ensure even lengths.
7. Secure a hackle behind the wing, and then move the thread forward to behind the eye.
8. Wind the hackle behind, through & in front of the wings then secure.
9. Whip finish and varnish as required.