Mailman Green Drake

Materials

How to Tie the Mailman Green Drake

1. 1

   Step 1

   Start the thread on the shank and wrap back to the bend.

2. 2

   Step 2

   Tie in a small bunch of olive mallard flank fibers on top of the shank at the bend for the tail. Bind the butts along the shank and trim the excess.

3. 3

   Step 3

   Tie in the pheasant tail fibers at the bend and leave them trailing to the rear.

4. 4

   Step 4

   Optional: tie in the wire at the same point and leave it trailing with the pheasant.

5. 5

   Step 5

   Bring the thread forward. Tie in the tinsel and wrap it in smooth, touching turns over the rear of the shank, leaving room at the front for the thorax. Tie off and trim.

6. 6

   Step 6

   Coat the tinsel with a thin layer of Loon UV Clear and cure it.

   The coating makes the tinsel body more durable.

7. 7

   Step 7

   Spiral the pheasant fibers forward over the tinsel in open turns so the pearl shows between them. Tie off at the front of the body.

8. 8

   Step 8

   Optional: spiral the wire forward over the body as a second rib and tie it off in the same place.

9. 9

   Step 9

   Give the rib a second thin coat of resin and cure it. Trim the excess.

10. 10

    Step 10

    Optional: cut a strip of Thin Skin and tie it in on top of the shank at the front of the body.

11. 11

    Step 11

    Dub the thread with Hare'e Ice Dub and build a small thorax. If you added Thin Skin, pull it forward over the top, tie it down in front of the dubbing and trim.

12. 12

    Step 12

    Pull the fluffy base fibers from a partridge feather and tie it in by the tip just ahead of the thorax.

13. 13

    Step 13

    Wrap the feather forward with hackle pliers, tie it off and trim. Stroke the fibers back and put a few wraps against their base so they lean toward the bend.

14. 14

    Step 14

    Build a neat head, whip finish and trim the thread. Touch a small drop of resin to the head and cure it.