Follow our step-by-step tying of this classic soft-hackled fly, best fished in water with a peaty stain
This fly with no name has proved its worth on many northern streams, particularly so in high summer when there’s a touch of colour in the water. Best fished in a three-fly team.
Materials for the Bullet Proof Bomb
Hook: Size 14 Kamasan B170 Thread: 14/0 Sheer, dark brown
Butt: Glo-Brite floss No.4 Rib: Fine copper wire
Body: Wraps of melanistic pheasant tail
Hackle: Several turns of grouse covert
Step 1. With the Glo-Brite floss in a bobbin holder, attach it to the hook then take it three turns down the shank and three turns back up to form the tag. Cast off the floss.
Step 2. Apply clear varnish to the tag, allowing it time to dry. Run on the thread and catch in the copper wire at the tag, ensuring the waste end of the wire is 3mm short of the eye.
Step 3. Secure the waste end with thread, then wind the thread back to the tag and catch in three or four melanistic pheasant tail fibres.
Step 4. Take the tying thread back up toward the eye to form a smooth base for the body. Wind the pheasant tail fibres along the shank.
Step 5. Secure the ends of the pheasant tail with tying thread, then take hold of the copper wire. Wind the wire in open turns to secure the pheasant tail fibres.
Step 6. Remove the waste ends of both the pheasant tail and the copper wire, then select and prepare a well-marked grouse wing covert feather. Catch it in by its tip where the body finishes.
Step 7. With the thread positioned at the eye, begin to wind the feather. As each turn forward is applied, stroke the fibres back so that they all sweep in the same direction.
Step 8. Continue winding the hackle, adding three or four turns to fill the space between the body and the eye. The aim is to produce a full effect in contrast to a normal Spider.
Step 9. With the hackle at the eye, secure the stem with thread turns. Trim the waste stem, then cast off the thread with a whip finish. Add a drop of clear varnish to the head.
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