Fly tying example

The peacock mayfly

Hook        : Kamasan B830 or similar

Thread      : 8/0 brown or black

Wing        : Loops of polypropylene floating yarn (Lureflash recommended)

Tail          : Cock pheasant tail fibres x 3

Underbody: White or cream wool or floss

Overbody  : Yellow raffiene

Rib           : Fine oval gold tinsel or gold wire

Thorax      : Roped bronze peacock herl

Hackle      : Grizzle cock and one of ginger/golden olive/red game wound together.

Step 1	Step 2
Step3	Step 4
Step 5	Step 6
Step 7	Step 8
Step 9	Step 10

1. Tie on thread 3mm behind eye of hook
2. Whip in a double thickness of polypropylene floating yarn.
3. Throw a double loop in the yarn to form wings and whip on securely.
4. Add support to base of wings by whipping around, including thread reversal in both directions.
5. Take thread to bend of hook and whip in 3 cock pheasant tail fibres.
6. Whip in underbody, overbody and rib. NB Allow sufficient waste up to wing and whip over up to behind wing - avoids unsightly bumps in body. Raffiene ties in best if moistened first.
7. Wind underbody - ain for a gently tapered increase in thickness towards wing. Finish behind wing.
8. Wind overbody as thinly as possible - aim for translucence. Finish behind wing.
9. Wind rib. About 6 turns - finish behind wing.
10. Whip in peacock herl 2mm behind wing.
11. Wind beginning of thorax up to wing and tie in with residual herl pointing downwards out of the way.
12. Whip in hackles at base of wing. Trim off excess stalk.
13. Wind hackles together around base of wings. Wings should self support after first turns.
14. Tie off hackles in front of wing having swept wound hackle back out of way between thumb and forefinger.
15. Keeping tied in hackle swept back complete thorax with peacock herl.
16. Tie off herl and finish head.
17. Varnish head.