Comet Steelhead Fly Tying Instructions

The Comet is a popular steelhead fly that was developed on the rivers in northern California. The fly is a streamer that is designed to sink quickly and be fished with erratic movements. Anglers can use a floating or sinking line with 10-to-20-lb. test leader material. Although the fly is designed for steelhead, it is also effective for catching salmon, trout, pike and bass. The fly can be tied in different colors, but blue, pink and chartreuse are the most common.

Things You'll Need

  • Fly-tying vise
  • Streamer hook
  • 6/0 thread
  • Dumbbell eyes
  • Super glue
  • Bucktail
  • Silver diamond braid
  • Dyed web-wing hackle
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Instructions

    • 1

      Place the hook in the fly-tying vise. Begin wrapping the thread near the eye of the hook. Build a thin base of thread against the eye of the hook and place the dumbbell eyes on top of the hook. Position the eyes against the eye of the hook and make several diagonal wraps to secure. Wrap the thread forward to the bend and place a small bead of super glue on the dumbbell eyes for extra security.

    • 2

      Cut a small section of dyed bucktail and clean the butt of the material by combing out particles. Measure the bucktail to 1.5 times the length of the hook. Place the material on top of the hook at the bend. Make several loose thread wraps, then several tight wraps to secure the tail.

    • 3

      Wrap the thread toward the eye of the hook and stop with a small gap between the thread and the eye. Tie the tag end of the diamond braid to hook shank and cover the braid as you work your way to the tail. Stop at the tail and wrap the thread back to the eye of the hook.

    • 4

      Wrap the diamond braid from the tail to the eye of the hook. Make tight wraps and cover the entire hook shank. Tie off the braid using several wraps of thread at the eye of the hook. Cut the tag end of the braid.

    • 5

      Tie a single soft hackle feather by the eye of the hook. Tie the hackle tips to the hook and make two full turns with the hackle to create a sparse collar. Use the thread to secure the hackle. Use a whip finisher to knot the thread around the hook and cut the thread.