Fly Tying Inventory
Red Francis
The Red Francis is a shrimp pattern for Atlantic salmon. Long stripped hackle stems and a bunch of pheasant tail fibers at the bend suggest the feelers and legs of a shrimp, ahead of a red dubbed body with a palmered red-brown cock hackle and an oval silver rib. It can be dressed on the smallest doubles and trebles as well as on large heavy tubes, and in a range of colors. Tied here on a size 8 Mustad Heritage DL71UP hook.
Ready to tie this?
This pattern needs 7 materials. Sign up free to check which ones you already own.
Materials
Mustad Heritage DL71UP salmon hook, size 8
8
Pheasant tail fibers, tied at the bend as the beard
Stripped cock hackle stems, for the feelers
Oval silver tinsel
Silver
Natural dubbing, red
Red
Cock hackle, red-brown, palmered over the body
Red-brown
How to Tie the Red Francis
- 1
Step 1
Fix the hook in the vise, start the red thread and run it back to the bend.
- 2
Step 2
Tie in a bunch of pheasant tail fibers at the bend so they project well past the hook. Bind the butts down along the shank and trim.
- 3
Step 3
Tie in the stripped cock hackle stems at the bend as long feelers that reach out beyond the pheasant tail fibers. Trim the butts.
- 4
Step 4
At the bend, tie in the oval silver tinsel and the red-brown cock hackle. Leave both hanging out of the way.
- 5
Step 5
Dub the red dubbing onto the thread and wind it forward to form the body, stopping a little short of the eye.
- 6
Step 6
Palmer the cock hackle forward over the body in open turns. Tie it off behind the eye and trim the tip.
- 7
Step 7
Wind the oval silver tinsel forward through the hackle as a rib, working it between the hackle turns so the fibers are not trapped. Tie it off and trim.
- 8
Step 8
Build a small neat head, whip finish and apply varnish.
Watch Tying Tutorial
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fvExs2Nctok
Credit: Barry Ord Clarke / The Feather Bender