Fly Tying Inventory
Gray Fox
The Gray Fox is a Catskill dry fly with wings of mallard flank set upright and divided, a tail of ginger hackle barbs, a slim body of fox belly fur and a mixed collar of grizzly and light ginger hackle. Winding the two hackle colors together gives the collar a speckled tone. The wings are tied in first, before the tail and body. Tied here on a size 12 hook.
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Materials
Sprite All Purpose Dry Fly hook, size 12
12
Semperfli Waxed Thread 12/0, tan
Tan · 12/0
Mallard flank feather
Gray
Ginger hackle barbs
Ginger
Fox belly fur dubbing
Ewing grizzly rooster hackle
Grizzly
Light ginger rooster hackle
Light Ginger
How to Tie the Gray Fox
- 1
Step 1
Start the thread behind the eye and lay a short base where the wings will go.
- 2
Step 2
Gather the fibers of a mallard flank feather into a bunch with the tips even and tie it in on top with the tips pointing forward over the eye. Trim the butts and cover them with thread.
- 3
Step 3
Stand the wing upright with thread wraps in front of it, then split it into two equal wings with figure-eight wraps.
- 4
Step 4
Wrap the thread to the bend and tie in a bunch of ginger hackle barbs for the tail. Bind the butts along the shank.
- 5
Step 5
Dub a thin layer of fox belly fur onto the thread and wrap a slim, slightly tapered body up to just behind the wings.
- 6
Step 6
Prepare one grizzly and one light ginger hackle and tie them in together behind the wings.
- 7
Step 7
Wrap one hackle in close turns behind and in front of the wings and tie it off behind the eye.
- 8
Step 8
Wrap the second hackle through the first, tie it off and trim both tips.
- 9
Step 9
Build a small head, whip finish and trim the thread.
Watch Tying Tutorial
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IJZLR0aah74
Credit: Umberto Oreglini / Down By The River