Royal Blue Mallard Spey

Royal Blue Mallard Spey Feathers

Royal blue is darker and deeper than kingfisher, and it does a different job. Paired with black it makes one of the best low-light steelhead combinations ever tied. On its own it gives a classic like the Blue Doctor its punch.

Twelve jumbo royal blue mallard spey feathers per pack, hand-picked for steelhead and salmon tiers. Wrap them as collars on Intruders, strip them for wings, or use them for throats on classic patterns.

Long fibers, real barring, and every feather in the pack earns its spot.

Recipe 1: Blue Doctor Spey

• Hook: Size 2 to 6 spey or up-eye salmon hook
• Thread: Red 8/0 for the head, black for the body
• Tag: Fine oval silver tinsel and yellow floss
• Tail: Golden pheasant crest
• Butt: Red wool or red SLF, small
• Body: Flat silver tinsel
• Rib: Fine oval silver tinsel
• Hackle: Royal Blue Mallard Spey, wound as a collar, two to three turns
• Wing: Natural Mallard Spey strips over a few strands of golden pheasant tippet
• Head: Red

How to fish it: A bright-fish fly for steelhead and Atlantic salmon in medium-clear water. Fish it on a floating line or light tip through riffles and the throat of the pool. The silver body flashes like a baitfish on the swing. Keep your rod tip low and let the fish turn before you set; a swinging fly hooks itself in the corner of the jaw.

Recipe 2: Blue Steel Mini Intruder

• Hook: Size 2 to 4 trailer hook on a 35 to 45 mm shank
• Thread: Black 140 denier
• Eyes: Small lead or tungsten dumbbell
• Rear hackle: Black ostrich herl, then a collar of Royal Blue Mallard Spey
• Body: Blue Ice Dub
• Front hackle: Black schlappen, then two turns of Royal Blue Mallard Spey
• Flash: Four strands of blue Flashabou
• Head: Black

How to fish it:

 This is a winter fly for dark days and dark water. Fish it on a Skagit head with a T-11 or T-14 tip. Swing it slow and deep through the soft middle of the run. Black and blue throws a strong silhouette in low light, so this is the fly for the first and last hour.