Reel Wings Hendrickson by Ricky Bassett

 

Hook: Partridge Patriot Ideal Dry Barbless
Thread: Benecchi's 12/0 Ultra Fine Thread – Tan (Sandy)
Dubbing: Super Fine - Hendrickson However, I use a light tannish pink red fox dubbing
Wing: Reel Wings - Dun Wings, Small
Tail: Medium Dun Hackle
Hackle: Medium Dun Hackle

 

Place a hook in the vise and attach your thread to the hook leaving a small space behind the eye.

 

Take a size small Reel Wings Dun Wings and cut a small triangle shaped notch in the center of the wings as seen in the photo. Now place the wings 1/3 of the way down the shank directly on top, centered on the notch you cut out. Wrap over top the wings from behind the right wing to in front of the left, then wrap from in front of the right wing to behind the left wing. You want make sure it is secured by using a figure 8 pattern. Now just lift them upright and they will stay in this upright position.

 

The wings should look like this after folding them upright. When in the position you are happy with, start advancing the thread rearwards to the hook bend to tie in the tail.

 

Select a hackle for the tailing material to your liking. You can find some very nice tailing material on your cape usually all the way on the edge. The barbs should be long, straight and stiff. This will help support the position of the dry fly on the water and help it to float better than if the tail were soft and flexible.

 

Remove a bundle of barbs from the stem and tie in the tail at the hook bend. The length of the tail should be slightly longer or the same length as the shank. Secure the butts to the shank by advancing the thread forward creating a slight taper to the body. Now trim the butts and position your thread back to the hook bend.

 

With your hendrickson dubbing of choice, spin a small amount onto the thread, tapered so that it is thinnest near the hook shank.

 

Make your first wrap of dubbing to lock in the dubbing noodle. Now you will be able to twist each wrap as tightly as you wish. The tighter you twist the noodle, the more you will achieve a segmented abdomen. I usually tightly twist each wrap advancing forward. Stop just after the halfway point of the hook shank leaving a space behind the Reel Wings.

 

Tie in one medium dun hackle by the butt as shown. Secure, and advance thread forward to behind the eye. I wrap the hackle 3 times behind the wings and 2 wraps in front of the wings, leaving a space before the hook eye. Capture the hackle with a couple of tight wraps and trim the tip. Tie off and lacquer the head and the fly is complete!

 

The finished Reel Wings Light Hendrickson.