Black Pennell
Hook: Wet fly hook size 8 to 14
Thread: Black.
Rib: Fine silver oval tinsel or wire.
Tail: Golden Pheasant (GP) tippets.
Body: Black floss.
Hackle: Black cock or hen. (Natural or dyed)
A great old wet fly, still useful when fish are feeding on hatching buzzers. Tying the Pennell is quite straightforward so this makes a great beginners fly.
For a change try the same fly tied claret or green. Or tie with a slim dubbed body rather than floss.
Wet fly hook in the vice, thread attached just behind the eye. Silver oval tinsel tied in under the shank
Choose a GP tippet feather for size. (This is a medium sized GP feather.)
Tippet tail tied in at the second bar.
The butts are tied down on top of the hook all the way to the front of the fly.
Tie in a slim strand of black floss.
Flatten the floss and wrap back to the tail.
Wrap the floss forwards to the thread and tie down with 2 or 3 wraps.
Floss can be burnished smooth by gently rubbing with a smooth tool. The tube of a ceramic bobbin holder works fine.
Wrap the rib forwards to the tying thread in even turns and catch in.
Trim the loose ends, rib and floss, and tidy everything with a couple of turns of thread.
Tie in a black hackle by the tip of the feather. Good side facing up. (This is dyed black Indian hen.)
Fold the hackle barbs back and wrap the hackle forwards in butting turns and tie down the bare stem.
Trim away the stem and form a neat small head. Whip finish and varnish the head.
