The pattern notebook · wet
Starling and Purple
How do you tie a Starling and Purple?
Starling and Purple is a wet fly pattern for Rainbow Trout, Brown Trout, Brook Trout. Find its 5 materials and 9 tying steps below.
- Difficulty
- 1 of 5
- Target species
- Rainbow Trout, Brown Trout, Brook Trout
- Pattern designer
- Traditional (North Country Spider, pre-1800s)
Added to catalog · Updated
At the vise
Materials
- Wet Fly Hook, TMC 3761, sizes 12-16
- Thread (8/0), Purple
- Body: Purple Silk Floss or Purple Thread
- Hackle: Starling Body Feather
- Head Cement
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Tying instructions
Secure the hook in the vise. Start purple thread behind the eye.
Wrap thread rearward to the bend of the hook.
Tie in purple silk floss at the bend, or use the tying thread itself as the body material.
Wrap the silk or thread forward in smooth, touching turns to the 1/4 point behind the eye.
Select a small starling body feather with fibers just longer than the hook gap.
Stroke the fibers rearward and tie in the feather by the tip.
Wrap the starling feather 1-2 turns only. Keep the hackle sparse.
Tie off the feather and trim the excess.
Build a small thread head. Whip finish and apply head cement.