The pattern notebook · dry
Red Quill
How do you tie a Red Quill?
Red Quill is a dry fly pattern for trout. Find its 5 materials and 18 tying steps below.
- Difficulty
- 2 of 5
- Target species
- trout
- Pattern designer
- Art Flick
Added to catalog · Updated
At the vise
Materials
- Hook: TMC 100 size 14 or standard dry fly hook
- Thread: Semperfli 12/0
- Tail: Brown hackle fibers
- Body: Stripped stem from brown hackle or Polish Quill in ginger
- Wing: Wood duck flank
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Tying instructions
Secure the hook in the vise.
Start the thread at 1/3 of the hook shank back from the eye.
Wrap a smooth thread base to the bend of the hook.
Select brown hackle fibers for the tail.
Tie in the tail so it is the length of the hook shank.
Select a brown hackle stem or Polish Quill for the body.
Tie in the body material at the base of the tail.
Wrap the body forward to the tie-in point, creating a tapered body.
Select wood duck flank feathers for the wing.
Stack and measure the wings so they are the length of the body.
Tie in the wings on top of the hook shank, leaving space for the head and hackle.
Split the wings and secure with figure-eight wraps.
Select a ginger hackle feather for the hackle.
Measure the hackle to be one size larger than the hook size.
Tie in the hackle feather in front of the wing.
Wrap the hackle forward, two or three turns.
Tie off the hackle and trim the excess.
Whip finish and apply head cement.