Royal Wulff
Hook:
Standard Dry Fly Hook
Thread:
Black 8/0 Tying Thread
Wing:
White calf body hair
Tail:
Moose hair
Rib:
Copper Wire
Body:
Peacock herl
Body:
Red floss
Hackle:
Brown rooster hackle
First tied by Lee Wulff, this Royal Coachman variation is a staple in a trout fisherman's fly box. It imitates many types of mayflies as well as some terrestrials.
How to tie a Royal Wulff Fly
Step
1
Start the thread and wind back to the middle of the hook shank.
Step
2
Tie in a clump of calf hair. It should be about one hook shank length at about three quarters of the way towards the hook eye. Trim the butt ends in a tight taper, and wrap the thread to the bend of the hook.
Step
3
Tie in a clump of moose hair at the bend for the tail. It should be approximately 1 hook shank long. Trim the butt ends at the base of the wing.
Step
4
Covering the moose hair butts, advance the thread to in front of the wing. Lift the wing and create a thread dam to help keep the wing upright.
Step
5
Divide the wing into equal clumps. Make several wraps of thread between the clumps to separate them. Make a few turns in the opposite direction to keep the wings spread.
Step
6
Wrap the thread around the bottom of the clumps to create a post with the wings in an upright position.
Step
7
Bring the thread back to the bend of the hook and tie in a few strands of peacock herl and a strip of copper wire.
Step
8
Wrap the peacock herl forward until just shy of the hook point. Tie off and clip.
Step
9
Advance the thread to a little over halfway up the hook shank and tie in red floss. Wrap the floss back to the peacock herl, then forward again to just short of the wing. Tie off.
Step
10
Tie in another bunch of peacock herl, leaving a gap of red floss between the peacock herl clumps to create a segmented body. Wrap it forward towards the wing and tie off, leaving enough space for hackle.
Step
11
Advance the copper wire to make the rib and tie off.
Step
12
Tie in two brown hackle feathers and advance the thread to the hook eye.
Step
13
Palmer the hackle forward to create a dense collar. Trim the hackle at the eye.
Step
14
Whip finish and cement the head if desired.