Ruling Stone
by Elaine Cook
Summertime in the Rockies and throughout the west requires having some large, meaty flies. Here's a high-floating winner to use in moving water. Don't be afraid of the lengthy directions; it's not hard to tie.
Ruling Stone
by Elaine Cook
Summertime in the Rockies and throughout the west requires having some large, meaty flies. Here's a high-floating winner to use in moving water. Don't be afraid of the lengthy directions; it's not hard to tie.
| Hook: | 200 R size 12-14 |
| Thread: | Rusty dun, grey or tan 8/0 |
| Tail: | Natural deer hair, med. width shafts, and at least med. length hair |
| Hackle: | Brown saddle or neck |
| Body: | Yellow floss |
| Underwing: | Gold Krystal Flash |
| Wing: | white calf tail |
| Head: | natural deer hair, as above |
1. Crimp barb.
2. Attach thread mid-shaft.
3. Select clump of deer hair, that after cleaning out underfur, equals 1/2 matchstick thick.
* Stack tips.
* Lay on top of shank so that tips extend 1/2 hook shank beyond rear of shank.
* Wrap in place to rear of shank, the last two wraps loose, so that the deer hair flares only a little.
* Wrap thread forward 2/3 of shank.
* Cut butt ends, tie down.
* Wrap close to rear of shank with tight wraps, keeping deer hair on top of shank.
4. Select hackle with barbs equal to 1 1/4 hook gap.
* Cut off any fuzz at butt end, then stroke barbs toward butt end and cut several short, forming a crew cut on each side of stem.
* Tie in at rear of shank with tip of hackle to rear of fly and dull side toward you.
5. Tie in floss at rear of shank.
* Advance thread to front of deer hair.
* Wrap forward covering deer hair, tie off, cut excess.
6. Palmer (spiral) hackle forward in 5-6 wraps, tie off, cut excess.
7. Select one strand Krystal Flash.
* Pull to almost straighten.
* Fold in half, lay center on top of shank, tie in place with 2-3 wraps.
* Fold all strands to read, tie in place.
* Cut strands at rear of tail so that there are 4 strands.
8. Pull clump of calf tail out perpendicular to tail, cut at base of hair, clean out underfur (NOTE: base of clump should be equal to
matchstick width).
* Position on top of shank, tips halfway back above tail.
* Make first wrap of thread around calf tail only, then many wraps around both calf tail and hook shank.
* Cut butt ends.
* Apply drop of Zap-A-Gap.
* Advance thread to behind eye.
9. Select and clean clump of deer hair as in #3, but after cleaning, is width of matchstick.
* Position on top of shank, tips extending hook shank length beyond eye.
* Make first thread wrap around only deer hair, and then several snug wraps around both hair and shank, flaring hair tips. (NOTE: hold onto butt ends.)
* Wrap thread firmly back on hair to tie in place of wing, cut butt ends short.
* Push hair tips backward all around shank, forming a bullet head, use thumbnail to push back beyond hook eye.
* Tie in place with many wraps.
* Whip finish, cut thread.
* Apply drop of Zap-A-Gap.