Kingfisher

Invicta Flies - Kingfisher

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The Kingfisher is modeled after its namesake. A kingfisher skin has a few richly colored feather, the most prominent being the luminescent turquoise feathers on the back. Other feathers are a rich brown with white near the butt ends. These feather patterns are represented in this attractor fly, which is productive as a dropper or by itself, whether dead-drifted or stripped through riffles and pocket water.

Hook: Mustad 3399, #16-18

Thread: Danville's Prewaxed 6/0, white & black

Tail: kingfisher body feather fibers

Ribbing: fine silver wire

Body: rear 2/3 brown floss, front 1/3 white floss

Collar: kingfisher back feather

Tying Instructions:

1) Secure the white thread just behind the eye and wrap back to the bend. Be sure the thread is "unwound" to wrap flat. At the bend, tie in a small bundle of fibers trimmed from a kingfisher flank feather, one of the duller varieties found on the skin. Length should be 3/4 to a full shank in length, leaving the tips uneven. Lash the butt ends to the top of the shank while bringing the thread forward to one hook eye width behind the eye.

2) Tie in the tag end of the silver wire on the far side of the hook near the eye. Smoothly wind the thread back to the bend lashing the wire to the far side. The excess should extend out beyond the bend.

3) Cut a section of brown floss about three inches long and tie this in at the bend. The excess should be over the bend, and you should leave enough to wrap over when winding forward with the tying thread. Bring the thread to about halfway up the shank. Smooth out the floss by stroking it gently away from the hook, then wind it in flat, smooth touching turns to the tying thread. Tie off with just two tight turns of thread and clip the excess.

4) Now cut a section of white floss and tie in just in front of the brown. Bring the thread to one hook eye width behind the eye, then wrap the floss to it and tie it off. Clip the excess.

5) Whip finish the white thread, clip, then attach the black thread just behind the eye. Wind back to the white floss. Spiral the silver wire forward four of five turns, tie off and clip the excess.

6) Select a feather from the back of the kingfisher skin where the feathers are brilliant turquoise. The fibers should be about one and a half times the hook gap. Gently stroke the fibers so they stand out from the stem and tie the feather in by its tip with three tight turns of thread. Take one full turn with the feather, tie off, and clip the excess. TIP: To help keep the feather from slipping out when winding, apply a small drop of cement to the tie-in area and allow a moment for it to dry.

7) Smooth out the head with the tying thread, whip finish, and cement well for a glossy look.


	Invicta Flies - Kingfisher Fly Patterns ~ Helpful Information ~ Waters (photos) ~ Your Input ~ Home The Kingfisher is modeled after its namesake. A kingfisher skin has a few richly colored feather, the most prominent being the luminescent turquoise feathers on the back. Other feathers are a rich brown with white near the butt ends. These feather patterns are represented in this attractor fly, which is productive as a dropper or by itself, whether dead-drifted or stripped through riffles and pocket water. Hook: Mustad 3399, #16-18 Thread: Danville's Prewaxed 6/0, white & black Tail: kingfisher body feather fibers Ribbing: fine silver wire Body: rear 2/3 brown floss, front 1/3 white floss Collar: kingfisher back feather Tying Instructions: 1) Secure the white thread just behind the eye and wrap back to the bend. Be sure the thread is "unwound" to wrap flat. At the bend, tie in a small bundle of fibers trimmed from a kingfisher flank feather, one of the duller varieties found on the skin. Length should be 3/4 to a full shank in length, leaving the tips uneven. Lash the butt ends to the top of the shank while bringing the thread forward to one hook eye width behind the eye. 2) Tie in the tag end of the silver wire on the far side of the hook near the eye. Smoothly wind the thread back to the bend lashing the wire to the far side. The excess should extend out beyond the bend. 3) Cut a section of brown floss about three inches long and tie this in at the bend. The excess should be over the bend, and you should leave enough to wrap over when winding forward with the tying thread. Bring the thread to about halfway up the shank. Smooth out the floss by stroking it gently away from the hook, then wind it in flat, smooth touching turns to the tying thread. Tie off with just two tight turns of thread and clip the excess. 4) Now cut a section of white floss and tie in just in front of the brown. Bring the thread to one hook eye width behind the eye, then wrap the floss to it and tie it off. Clip the excess. 5) Whip finish the white thread, clip, then attach the black thread just behind the eye. Wind back to the white floss. Spiral the silver wire forward four of five turns, tie off and clip the excess. 6) Select a feather from the back of the kingfisher skin where the feathers are brilliant turquoise. The fibers should be about one and a half times the hook gap. Gently stroke the fibers so they stand out from the stem and tie the feather in by its tip with three tight turns of thread. Take one full turn with the feather, tie off, and clip the excess. TIP: To help keep the feather from slipping out when winding, apply a small drop of cement to the tie-in area and allow a moment for it to dry. 7) Smooth out the head with the tying thread, whip finish, and cement well for a glossy look.