How to Tie Popeye Flies

The Popeye fly is actually a jig capable of catching fish with conventional or fly-fishing methods. The jig is more common with conventional gear, and the diving motion is extremely effective. Tying Popeye flies requires basic fly-tying tools and materials. The colors are flexible and easily adaptable to your specific needs. The flies are popular for trout and crappie fishing but are capable of catching most game fish species. Molds are available to create the jig head, but hooks may also be purchased with the head already intact.

Things You'll Need

  • Jig hook
  • Fly-tying vise
  • 3/0 thread
  • Bobbin
  • Saddle hackle feathers
  • Scissors
  • Head cement
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Instructions

    • 1

      Clamp the jig hook in a fly-tying vise. Clamp the two arms on a bobbin on each end of a thread spool. Feed the end of the thread through the tube on the center of the bobbin.

    • 2

      Wrap the thread 10 times against the head of the jig. Overlap the wraps to hold the thread on the hook. Trim the extra tag end of thread off the hook. Make an additional 10 thread wraps against the head to build a base of thread.

    • 3

      Select four saddle hackle feathers and pull them from the skin or string. Align tips of two feathers with the curve facing inward. Measure the feathers to match twice the length of the hook, and hold the base of the measurement on the thread. Make 10 thread wraps over the measured point to secure the feathers, and cut off the extra base section from the feathers.

    • 4

      Align the tips of the two remaining feathers with the natural curve facing outward. Place one feather on each side of the hook with the tips slightly shorter than the original two. Hold the feathers in place and make 10 wraps to secure them on the hook. Cut the extra base section of the feathers off the hook.

    • 5

      Wrap the thread against the jig head 10 times to create an even layer of thread. Coat the thread wraps with a thin layer of head cement to hold the work in place. Wait one minute for the cement to dry and cut the remaining thread off the hook.