Married Wing Purple/Claret I received some new winging material in the mail the other day and thought I'd give it a workout. It was kind of fun putting this fly together because I had no real plan as to its construction. The color of the tag pretty much dictated the flow of the rest of the materials. Not the easiest type of fly to tie, and they do take some time to complete, but for me there is nothing better than to hook a steelhead on a fancy fly. Have fun with this one and thanks for looking. Married Wing Purple and Claret Hook: Alec Jackson size 3/0 Tip: Fine silver oval tinsel Tag: Magenta silk floss Tail: Golden Pheasant crest, topped with small blue feather Butt: Black ostrich herl Body: First 1/4 platinum silk floss followed by platinum and claret dubbing Rib: Flat pearl Mylar tinsel followed by medium oval silver tinsel Hackle: Purple Blue Eared Pheasant starting at claret dubbing Collar: Purple schlappen Underwing: Purple hackle tips Wing: Purple and claret turkey tail with Speckled Bustard Cheek: Jungle Cock
The fly begins with the tip of the tag, you know the drill. Start the tying thread at the bend of the hook. Insert the oval tinsel on the backside of the hook. Wrap the thread down the bend trapping the tinsel as you go. When the thread is hanging in line at the mid-point between the point of the hook and the barb stop and make 3 to 4 wraps with the oval tinsel. Return the thread to the starting point trapping the tinsel as you go. Secure in the floss. Wrapped the floss down and back and secure.
Secure the Golden Pheasant crest feather at the bend of the hook and top with the small blue feather.
Secure the black ostrich herl to the backside the hook. Wrap the ostrich herl 3 to 4 turns making sure to butt up tightly against the tag.
Wrap the tying thread to the return trapping the tinsel, floss, and ostrich herl as you go. Return the tying thread to the rear 1/4 point. Secure in the oval tinsel followed by the flat Mylar tinsel followed by a length of silk floss. Wrapped the silk floss rearward to the butt trapping the ribbing materials as you go. Return the floss to the starting point and secure. Do not cut the tag end of the floss.
Create a dubbing loop by tying an overhand knot in the floss 6 to 8 inches below the tie in point. Load the dubbing loop with dubbing and give it a spin. Wrap the dubbing forward to the mid-joint and secure.
Tie off the primrose colored thread and exchange with wine colored thread. Secure the body hackle on the backside of the hook. Build a dubbing loop with the tying thread and load with claret dubbing. Give the loop a spin and wrap the dubbing forward to the eye the hook.
Bring the pearl Mylar tinsel forward making five open wraps. The oval tinsel is then wrapped forward slightly overlapping the Mylar.
The hackle then follows the oval tinsel forward and is secured.
Wrap a collar of purple schlappen. Pull the body hackle and schlappen downward and give a good pinch to set the barbs in place.
Select two purple hackles and gauged to length. The tips of the hackles should rest just inside of the Golden Pheasant crest feather. Clear the excess barbs and fluff from the stem. Insert the stems through the eye of the hook and secure with 2 to 3 firm wraps.
Setting the married wing takes a little practice. If you have not been down this road before it's a good idea to practice with a basic strip wing first. Cup the wing over the underwing of hackle tips and gauge to length. While pinching firmly with the left hand take two loose wraps over the top of the wing. Then pull the tying thread straight up compressing the wing one barb at a time. Make 3 to 4 firm securing wraps before releasing the wing.
Clip the tag ends and build up a small head with the tying thread. Give the thread a whip and a few coats of head cement and this fly is now ready to go to work.