Tying Instructions for a Hatchmatcher Fly

The hatchmatcher dry fly, also known as a hatchmaster or a two-feather fly, is an imitator of the may fly's "white fly" hatch. First developed in the 1930s for use in the Catskills, it spread to the west, particularly in the spring creeks in Idaho, and similar patterns have also been used in New England. Its distinguishing characteristic is the split tail formed from a pair of separated fibers of a mallard or grouse flank feather.

Things You'll Need

  • Fly tying vise and tools
  • Dry fly hook (Mustad 94840 or similar, size 12 to 22)
  • Mallard flank feather
  • Black or olive thread
  • Grizzly or white hackle
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Instructions

    • 1

      Place the hook in the vise and start the thread in the normal manner, winding it up and down the shank and leaving it about halfway down the shank in position to tie on the body.

    • 2

      Select a mallard flank feather and carefully cut just the quill near the tip to form a V-shaped opening. Use a dubbing needle to separate one or two fibers on each side of the V, then stroke the remaining fibers down toward the base of the quill. Holding these fibers pointing toward the front of the fly, tie the feather onto the shank with the concave side up so that the split tail formed by the separated fibers extends backward and upward beyond the bend in the hook. The tail thus consists of the rearward-pointing split tail fibers and a portion of the forward-pointing fibers, creating a natural looking segmented tail.

    • 3

      Make several wraps to secure the body, then pull the front-facing fibers back and upward. Make several thread wraps in front of them to cause them to stand up, forming the wings. When the body is securely attached and the wings are formed, trim off the remaining quill. Trim the wings to the desired length.

    • 4

      Tie in the hackle feather just behind the wing. Wrap the hackle 4-5 times behind the wing, then bring it forward and wrap several times in front of the wing, ensuring that the hackle fibers are standing up correctly. Secure the hackle and trim off the excess.

    • 5

      Form a small head with several thread wraps, then finish the fly with a whip finish. Place a small drop of head cement on the head to secure it.