How to tie: a Royal Wulff

With : Charlie's Fly Box

The Royal Wolf is known for its buoyancy and visibility. Its dense hair wing and tail provide a robust floating profile, making it a reliable choice for various conditions. This fly remains a favorite due to its durability and effectiveness on the water.

Materials You'll Need

• Hook: TMCO 14 100's PBL (size 14)

• Thread: TMCO 60/70 denier

• Wing: White calf body hair

• Tail: Moose hair

• Body: Peacock herl and red Uni-floss

• Hackle: Two Coachman Brown saddle hackles

• Wire: Fine copper wire

• Head Cement

Steps to Tie the Oil Wolf

1. Prepare the Hook and Thread

   • Start by securing your hook in the vise.

   • Thread your bobbin with TMCO 60/70 denier thread. Begin your thread wraps just behind the eye of the hook and dress about 75% of the front half of the hook shank.

2. Tie in the Wing

   • Select a clump of white calf body hair. Ensure the hair is dense and relatively straight.

   • Clean out the short, wispy fibers. Stack the hair in a medium-sized stacker.

   • Measure the hair to be about one shank length. Tie the hair in at the 75% mark with two tight turns.

   • Create a tapered cut on the hair to blend into the body.

   • Wrap the thread back over the tapered ends to cover them up to the hook bend.

3. Add the Tail

   • Choose a clump of moose hair. Clean and stack it as you did with the calf body hair.

   • Measure the tail to match the wing length. Tie it in at the bend of the hook and trim it to match the taper of the body.

4. Build the Body

   • Tie in a length of fine copper wire along the near side of the hook from behind the wings to the base of the tail.

   • Prepare a few strands of peacock herl. Align and trim the tips. Tie the herl in at the bend and create a tapered body by wrapping it forward.

   • Add a section of red Uni-floss. Separate the strands, trim to length, and wrap it forward over the peacock herl to create a smooth body. Secure with thread wraps and trim excess floss.

   • Tie in additional peacock herl at the front of the body, create a second bunch, and secure it with thread.

5. Add the Hackles

   • Strip the stems from two Coachman Brown saddle hackles. Tie them in at the base of the wing with the insides facing the hook.

   • Wrap both hackles at the same time, with the outside of the feathers facing forward. Ensure the hackles are evenly spaced and secure them with several thread wraps.

6. Finish the Fly

   • Trim the excess hackle stems close to the hook shank. Ensure no loose fibers are left behind.

   • Build a neat thread head at the front of the hook and secure with head cement.