Red Tag

 

The red tag is as relevant today as when it was first invented some 140 years ago. It is perhaps the quintessential beetle imitation and is popular worldwide.

Materials

Hook Thread Tag Body Hackle
Size 12 – 16 Black silk Red wool Peacock herl Greenwell hackle

Process

 

A
  1. Wind the thread in touching turns from the 95% position to the bend of the hook.
  2. Tie in a tag equal in length to about 2/3 the gape of the hook.

 

B
  1. Tie in several strands of peacock herl.
  2. Form the herl into a herl rope.
  3. Wind the herl rope along the rear 2/3 of the hook shank to form an acorn shaped body.
  4. Trim the excess herl.

 

C
  1. Tie a hackle in directly in front of the body
  2. Wind the thread forward to where the hackle body is to finish.

 

D
  1. Wind the hackle forward in touching turns to the thread.
  2. Tie the hackle off at the thread and trim the excess hackle.
  3. Build up a neat head of thread.
  4. Whip finish and varnish the head.

 



Last Updated: December 21, 2010
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Categories: Dry flies, Flies, My "trout" dry fly box
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