Fly Tying Inventory
Royal Wulff
A legendary attractor dry fly designed by Lee Wulff in the 1930s as a more durable, high-floating variation of the Royal Coachman. Wulff revolutionized dry fly design by replacing fragile feather wings and tail with buoyant animal hair. The bold peacock herl and red floss body, white calf tail wings, and mixed hackle make it one of the most visible and effective patterns for prospecting, especially in fast or turbulent water.
🪶 Ready to tie this?
This pattern needs 8 materials. Sign up free to check which ones you already own.
Materials
Standard dry fly hook, sizes 10-18
Black 6/0 or 8/0
Brown moose body hair
Peacock herl
Red floss
Peacock herl
White calf tail hair, upright and divided
Brown and grizzly rooster hackle, wound together
How to Tie the Royal Wulff
- 1
Step 1
Mount hook and start black thread, wrapping a base to the bend.
- 2
Step 2
Tie in a small bunch of moose body hair for the tail, roughly shank length.
Moose hair is hollow and provides excellent flotation.
- 3
Step 3
Wrap peacock herl for the rear third of the body.
- 4
Step 4
Tie in red floss and wrap a band in the center third of the body.
- 5
Step 5
Wrap peacock herl for the front third of the body.
- 6
Step 6
Tie in white calf tail hair as upright, divided wings using figure-eight wraps.
Measure wings to approximately shank length for proper proportions.
- 7
Step 7
Attach brown and grizzly hackle feathers. Wind both forward around the wing base, making turns behind and in front.
- 8
Step 8
Build a small thread head, whip finish, and apply head cement.
Watch Tying Tutorial
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=duso_e2vbhI
Credit: Lee Wulff (1930s)