This is the dressing for the pattern that is discussed in the forum on the subject of Grayling. It really is a deadly pattern and is just as effective on trout.

It can be fished either Czech nymph style upstream nymph or down and across wet fly style. It all depends on how the fish want it presented.

The dressing is as follows:

• Hook: Kamasan B175, size 10. By all means, try other sizes but this seems to be the best for both the Usk and Wye.
• Underbody: Lead wire or foil
• Rib: Copper Wire
• Body: Rust coloured dubbing or wool tied tight
• Head: White PTFE tape cut to size with black silk whip finish.

The pattern is a variation of one in John Roberts book on Trout Flies. The only difference between his and Parf’s is the head material. In John’s, it is latex in Parf’s, it is the PTFE tape.

First, attach the hook into the vice and add your wire in tight touching turns.

The trick here is to leave a long tail at the bent end that will stop the wire turning around the shank as it pres ses against the hook barb. Another point to remember is that if you keep turning the wire around the shank with just the right hand it will break. Use both hands to turn it around the shank so that it keeps its strength.

Remember to leave plenty of room for the head. You do not want any wire here. I now put a dab of Zap a Gap on the lead wire and wind on the tying silk. In this pattern, I have used Uni Nylon 70 denier which is a multistrand tying thread.

Now take the thread to the head of the fly and attach the PTFE tape. This material costs pence from your local DIY store and comes on a small roll 1/2″ wide so you need to cut it into a small strip about 2mm wide. Its proper use is to seal screw joints on pipes so that they do not leak.

Wind the head on forward to the eye and then back to the body. This can be done twice each way provided the strip is not too wide. Do stretch a little when winding as this will encourage the tape to adhere to itself. When you have wound the head tie the tape off on the wire underbody out of the way.

Tie in the copper rib and secure it well.

Dub on the dubbing tight and wind on the body. After each couple of turns, again tighten the dubbing. Stop at the head.

Do not cover the white PTFE tape otherwise, you will not have the trigger that the fish recognise in this fly. Now wrap the copper wire rib in open turns down the body and tie off.

Now whip-finish the tying silk and add a small black head at the eye. Varnish and tie a dozen more as all your fishing buddies will be stealing them out of your box.

A great pattern so get tying!