Royal Wulff

Materials

• Veevus Floss
  Thread
• UNI-Thread
  Thread
• Metz Necks
  Hackle
• Peacock Herl
  Feather
• Calf Tail
  Fur
• TMC100
  Hook
• Bull Elk
  Fur

Instructions

1. Start your thread and stop wrapping about one third of the way back from the eye.
2. Tie in the wings. Tie the calf tail hair pointing forward over the eye, then stand the bundle upright with thread wraps built in front of it. Divide it into two even wings with figure-eight wraps and a few wraps around the base of each post. Set them upright and slightly split. Getting these mounted solidly now makes the rest of the fly much easier. Don't be afraid to add a dab of glue to the base.
3. Tie in the tail. Wrap back to the bend. Stack a small clump of elk or moose hair and tie it in as a tail, about one shank-length long.
4. Build the rear peacock segment. Tie in two or three strands of peacock herl at the bend. Wrap them forward a short way to form the first ball of the body, then tie off. Leave room for the floss and front herl segment.
5. Add the red band. Tie in a length of red floss and wrap it forward to create a smooth, bright band in the middle of the body.
6. Build the front peacock segment. Tie in peacock herl again and wrap forward to form a second herl ball, stopping just behind the wings.
7. Prepare and tie in the hackle. Select a brown dry-fly hackle sized to the hook. Strip the fuzzy fibers from the base and tie it in by the stem just behind the wings.
8. Wrap the hackle. Take a few wraps of hackle behind the wings, then a few in front, working toward the eye. Tie off the hackle behind the eye and clip the excess. The wraps should be dense enough to float the fly but not crowd the eye.
9. Finish the head. Build a small, neat thread head, whip finish, and clip the thread. Add a drop of cement to the head.