Note:
The Rusty Rat body is normally tied with half floss behind half peacock herl but I
tied this one with ribbed floss for 2/3rd of the body to give it more of
a streamline look. Also, the ribbing is normally applied over the floss
and herl but I prefer the herl without ribbing.
There are different versions of the Rusty Rat.
Frank Amato ties one with a gray squirrel wing an
unribbed red floss body and veil. Poul Jorgensen ties a series of different
Rats in his Salmon Flies book. Paul Dieter has a Rusty
Rat broach pin on this page with a ribbed red floss body and a red hair
wing.
If
you know the origin of the Rusty Rat please email the information to
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and the information will be included here. Or even better, submit your
version for a page of it's own.
Instructions
Step
1. Tie in the oval gold tinsel tag positioned as shown (just ahead of the
barb to the point).
Step
2. Tie in the peacock sword fibers (three) for the tail, extending to or
just past the rear most part of the hook.
Step
3. Tie in a section of oval gold tinsel to be used for the ribbing in Step
4. Then tie in the yellow floss and wrap over 2/3rd of the body, about 1/2
of hook shank on a Alex Jackson salmon hook. If the floss is too thin for
the desired body then wrap back and forward until reaching the thickness
desired.
Step 4. Wrap ribbing over floss body. If you wish to rib the front
herl section (Step 6) then leave enough tinsel hanging or wait to wrap it until
the herl is tied in.
Step 5. Tie in the yellow floss veil. If the floss is too thin then
simply add 2 pieces, trimmed evenly, to extend about midway of the tail.
Then tie in 3 or more peacock herl fibers (enough to complete body). Wrap
thread to where front of body will end. Leave enough room to tie in wing
and collar.
Step 6. Wrap herl body as shown and tie off.
Step
7. Tie in gray fox guard hairs (stacked evenly).
Step
8. Tie in grizzly hen hackle. Using wet fingers (saliva) pull the
fibers together toward the rear and perpendicular to the hackle stem and wrap as
you do it. Only wrap 2 or 3 turns because too much hackle will not look
good.
Step
9: Tie in the jungle cock eye for the cheek, angled along with the
wing. Build up the head with thread and coat with cement. I
use "Hard as Nails" clear fingernail polish.
As
you probably noticed, I tied the body shaped slightly thinner toward the
front. I did this on purpose because I like the tapered look. If you
prefer a straight level body simply wrap it that way. |
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