Invicta Flies - Dervish
Hook: Mustad 3906B, #16
Thread: Danville's Prewaxed 6/0, black for Gold Dervish, olive for Green Dervish
Body: gold (or green) floss twisted with tying thread
Hackle: dyed ginger (golden yellow) hen hackle
Tying Instructions:
1) Place hook in vise and secure thread onto shank just behind the eye. Wind back to the bend of hook, laying a smooth thread base.
.
2) At the bend, form a dubbing loop with the thread, three or four inches long. To do this, let out about seven or eight inches of thread. Hold this section in the middle. Keep the thread between the hook and your fingers tight as you bring the bobbin up to the shank. Place thread nearest the bobbin a thread wrap or two in front of the first. Wind the thread back on itself to "lock" the loop in. Leave loop to dangle. For images showing how to do this, click here.
3) Tie in a length of floss equal to the loop at bend and wind thread forward to one and a half hook-eye lengths behind eye. If necessary, wind the thread back and forth to create a smooth foundation.
4) Wet the floss with water or saliva to keep it bundled together. Stretch taught side-by-side with the thread loop. Using hackle pliers or small clip, spin the two together so a ribbing effect is achieved, spacing of the ribs about equal to hook eye length. Now wind this forward to where thread is hanging and tie off. Clip excess. TIP: Use a ceramic tube bobbin to hold and dispense the floss. This minimizes waste and, on this pattern, makes it easy to twist with the thread.
5) Tie in the hen hackle and make two turns. Fibers should extend to somewhere between the hook point and the bend of the hook. Tie off and clip the excess.
6) Build up a small head with thread wraps. Whip finish and cement.