My First SBS
Apologies to Sandy for plagiarising his favourite fly but it is now one of my favourites to tie and I am looking forward to fishing it in the spring.
Materials
Hook - FTB 103 size 16
Thread - Natural sewing thread (thanks Kevin)
Body - lightly dubbed Orvis light grey dubbing
Hackle - waterhen
Step 1: Lay down thread body stopping 3 wraps short of where body will start.
Step 2: Wax thread and lightly dub thread for body.
Step 3: Form body stopping short of eye to allow space to tie in hackle and form head.
Step 4: Select small feather from the base of a waterhen wing, strip of downey feathers from base. Stroke feathers backwards holding with tweezers and make triangle to tie in with.
Step 5: Tie in hackle with point using pinch and loop method.
Step 6: Wind 1.5 turns of hackle and catch with thread being careful not to trap any fibres, form head and whip finish.
PS What are the best type of hackle pliers for these small hackles as mine keep slipping off even with a bit of rubber on one side of them.