Edson Tiger Light Fly Tying Instructions

The Edson Tiger Light is a traditional streamer fly. The simple pattern is easy to tie and requires minimal materials. It is capable of catching numerous different species when retrieved or swung through various levels of the water column. The Bill Edson fly imitates a bait fish and can be tied in several variations. The original pattern used a peacock body but many of the modern imitations use a chenille body. The peacock reflects more light but the chenille is more durable.

Things You'll Need

  • 3x Long Streamer hook
  • Red 6/0 Thread
  • Peacock herl
  • Oval gold tinsel
  • Yellow bucktail
  • Head cement
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Instructions

    • 1

      Place the hook in the fly tying vise and clamp the jaws to secure it in place. Check the hook to ensure it is level or tilted slightly upwards. Tilting the hook down allow materials to slip.

    • 2

      Start the thread at the half way point on the hook. Wrap the thread over itself to secure it in place. Wrap the thread forward to the bend in the hook. Use your finger to make a loop in the thread and secure it to the hook. Use a dubbing twister to hook on the end of the loop.

    • 3

      Remove five or six peacock herls from a bunch. Make several wraps of thread to secure the tips of the herls at the bend in the hook. Make several more wraps to secure the tinsel to the hook. Place the herls in the loop and rotate the dubbing twister to create a single strand of peacock. Wrap the thread forward and stop, leaving 1/3 of the hook between the thread and the eye. Wrap the peacock to the end of the thread and make several wraps to secure the peacock to the hook. Cut the excess loop and peacock away from the hook. Counter-wrap the tinsel with even spacing on five or six wraps. Tie off the tinsel and cut away the excess.

    • 4

      Cut a small clump of yellow buck-tail and place the clump in a hair stacker with the tips first. Tap the stacker against a hard surface to align all of the tips. Remove the hair from the stacker and place it on the hook shank. The tips should be slightly longer than the bend in the hook. Make several wraps of thread to secure the buck-tail in place.

    • 5

      Wrap the thread until you have a bullet shaped head. Use a whip finisher to tie off the thread and cut away the excess. Place a small drop of head cement on the head to finish the fly.