Start the thread in the front of the lead wire and build a thread dam, then wind back and repeat it on the other side. It’s really up to you on how much weight you want the fly to have. I usually always center it to be directly in the middle on the hook shank. You don’t want to weight it to where you don’t have any room to tie in the tail and crowd the eye.
Step 2.
Take one feather and cut the stem out of the tip. This will create memory in the tail, which is something you don’t want. You want any tail whether it’s marabou or whatever to breathe when its riding through the water column. This won’t move like marabou, but get in the habit of doing this to all tails.
Step 3.
I leave the whole feather in tact while I tie it down. This will help secure it. I tie it to butt up with the lead in the back. Measure it to be the length of the shank.
Step 4.
Trim the excess and tie down any loose fibers hanging from making the cut.
Step 5.
Advance the thread back up in front of the lead wire. Cut a strand of floss to be long enough to fold around the thread, so you’ll double it up. Wind back to the bend on the underside of the shank. A rotary works great for making this stay on the bottom, and to be a little easier on lining it up correctly.
Step 6.
Tie in the hackle at the tip of the feather and wind it to meet everything else in the back.
Step 7.
Make an even (smooth body) foundation of dubbing all the way up, but leave a little room at the eye.
Step 8.
Fold the floss up and tie it down. Trim the excess.
Step 9.
Palmer the hackle up. I don’t like it to be real close so make sure you space the hackle accordingly.
