Gray Hackle Peacock

The Gray Hackle Peacock easily falls into my "top 25 flies."  I will typically fish it as a dropper working my way upstream or by itself across and down.  In lakes or tail waters, a tailless version works wonders where snails are high on the menu.

This fly comes with a long and proud history. The earliest writings call for red silk (thread) peacock and speckled hackle or grizzly (circa 1670's). Unfortunately I am unable to pinpoint the time when the red tail and gold tag where added.

Materials:

Hook:  Daiichi 1530 (or any nymph hook), sizes 8-16

Thread:  Black (pictured is Veevus 14/0)

Tag:  Lagartun, narrow flat gold

Tail:  Red hackle fibers

Body:  Peacock herl

Hackle:  Grizzly hen hackle

Step 1:

Pinch barb in vise and secure.  Start thread behind eye and wrap to the hook point.

Step 2:

Tie in gold tinsel with a long forward tag.  Make two rearward turns and two turns forward.

Step 2a:

Wrap tinsel rearward in close turns without overlapping and return.  Once the tinsel is brought back to the tie in point, unwind thread, take an additional turn of tinsel forward and secure with rearward thread turns.  The ends of the tinsel should be near the top of the shank and pictured.  Do not cut tinsel.

Step 2b:

By applying a little pressure to the bobbin the tinsel can be wiggled back and forth.  It will break cleanly.

Step 3:

Select a few red hackle fibers and secure to the top of the hook shank.  Keep the tail thin.  

Step 4:

Select two peacock herls from below the eye.  Cut away approximately an inch from the tips,  Tie in along the near side of the hook shank back to the tag.

Step 4a:

Gently pull down peacock herl and parallel thread.  Twist thread and herl to form a rope.  Wrap forward stopping at the thread starting point in step 1.  See Black Prince.

Step 5:

Tie in hen hackle by the bottom part of the stem.

Step 5a:

Take one or two turns of hackle.  Secure and whip finish.  Apply two coats of head cement.

Tight lines!