Fly of the Month - Isonychia Soft Hackle

Hook: FML 5085 Nymph Hook, Size 12 (Size 10 also works)
Thread: UTC 70 in Brown (Black or Maroon also work)
Rib: Ultra Wire, Small, Gold
Tail: 6-8 Pheasant Tail fibers, dyed Chocolate Brown
Dorsal Stripe: UTC 140 in White
Abdomen Dubbing: Spirit River UV2 Isonychia Fine & Dry
Thorax: 3-4 strands, Peacock Herl
Collar: Mottled Brown Hen Saddle
Head Cement: Sally Hansen Hard as Nails or similar.

Step 1: Prepare the Hook

Secure a Size 12 FML 5085 nymph hook in your vise. Start your thread (UTC 70 Brown) a few eye-widths behind the hook eye, and wrap rearward about a dozen turns. Trim the tag end.

Step 2: Tie in the Ribbing

Attach a 8" length of small gold Ultra Wire on top of the hook shank. Bind it down with touching thread wraps back to the start of the hook bend. Let the wire hang off the back and optionally secure with a materials clip.

Step 3: Add the Tail

Select 6 pheasant tail fibers (dyed chocolate brown) and strip them clean from the stem. Cut off the fuzzy butts. Measure a tail slightly longer than the hook gap, then secure it on top of the hook shank. Use upward and toward-you thread tension to keep the fibers centered. Bind the fibers all the way to the start of the bend. Trim excess.

Step 4: Add the Back Stripe

Start a short length of white UTC 140 thread at the midpoint of the hook shank. Secure it on top of the shank, wrapping back to the tail base. Then bring your main tying thread back to the midpoint.

Step 5: Dub the Abdomen

Use Isonychia UV2 Fine & Dry dubbing to form a slim dubbing noodle about 4 inches long. Apply a little at a time, leaving the base untwisted so you can blend in additional fibers for cohesion. Start wrapping at the base of the tail and cover the abdomen up to your thread tie-in point.

Step 6: Secure the Back Stripe

Pull the white thread over the top of the abdomen and secure it with tight wraps. Pull the tag back and lock it down with a few rearward wraps. Trim excess.

Step 7: Wrap the Rib

Spiral-wrap the gold wire forward in open turns to segment the body and secure the back stripe. Tie off at the front of the abdomen and break off the wire with a helicopter twist.

Step 8: Add the Thorax

Select 3–4 strands of peacock herl, trimming the brittle tips. Tie in the herl just in front of the abdomen and wrap it forward in tight, touching turns to form a thorax. Tie off and trim excess, leaving a small space behind the eye.

Step 9: Prepare and Wrap the Soft Hackle

Select a mottled brown hen saddle feather, stripping off the fuzzy fibers. Stroke down about ¼" of the lower barbs to expose the tip and snip it off. Give your bobbin a counterclockwise spin so the thread will jump rearward and catch the stem and a few fibers on either side. Tie in the hackle at the back edge of the hook eye.

Make 2 turns of hackle, stroking the fibers rearward as you go. Secure and trim the excess stem. Sweep any forward-facing barbs back and lock in place with a couple of thread wraps.

Step 10: Finish the Fly

Whip finish with 5–6 turns, keeping the head small and neat. Apply a drop of head cement to seal the wraps. Use a bodkin to clear the hook eye of any adhesive.