Green Rat
Chartreuse is very effective color on the Salmon River, and the Green Rat is my favorite chartreuse pattern. The floss is Gordon Griffith's "Super Glo" floss. If there is a brighter green, I haven't found it. This fly is absolutely electric.
Tying instructions:
- Tie in a length of tinsel on the far underside of the hook just past the bend.
- Tie in a length of mylar tinsel and wrap back to the tag and forward again to the thread, forming a tinsel underbody for the floss..
- Make a few (three or four) turns of tinsel to form a tag.
- Tie in three or four strands of peacock sword for a tail, keeping the tail about a gap in length.
- Tie in the ribbing tinsel on the far underside of the hook.
- Bring the thread forward to the front of the hook.
- Tie in a length of mylar tinsel and wrap it to the tag and back again, forming a tinsel underbody for the floss.
- Tie in a length of floss and wrap it to the tag and back again, forming a smooth body. Trim excess.
- Double a length of floss around your thread and begin to wrap your thread rearward to the middle of the body, binding the doubled floss to the top of the hook forming the body veil.
- Tie in a couple strands of peacock herl and wrap them forward to the hook eye (leaving room for the head).
- Wrap the ribbing tinsel forward.
- Cut some gray fox from a section of hide and comb out most (but not all) of the underfur. Keep the wing quite sparse. Tie the wing just behind the hook eye.
- Select a grizzly hen hackle such that the barbs reach about to the middle of the wing (or thereabouts).
- Tie the hackle in by its tip and make a couple wraps, folding as you go.
- Form a small neat head, whip finish, and trim.