Marabou

Tying Instructions: Matuka




	1. Secure the hook to the vise and wrap 10-15 turns of leadfree wire to the shank. Use the following wire sizes depending upon the hook: 0.025 Size 6-8, 0.020 Size 10-12, 0.015 Size 14. Allow some space from the eye of the hook. Attach the thread to the shank just in front of the lead wraps.
	2. Secure the wire with thread wraps wrapping 4-5 times with spirol wraps, then wrap a thread fouindation back to the bend of the hook. The bend of the hook will be where the thread intersects with the middle of the barb when hanging vertically..
	3. Attach a wire ribbing to the bottom of the hook shank. The tag end should be just in front of the wrie wraps. Use Medium or Brassie sizes in Gold or Silver.
	4. Tie in Chenille by it's threaded core at the bend of the hook. Bring the thread to about two eye lengths behind the eye.
	5. Twist the chenille so that it gets a brushy look rather than laying flat. Wrap the chenille forward to about the 2/3 positon of the shank and secure with thread wraps..
	6. Attach a piece of red chenille (for the gills) by it's threaded core just in front of the body.
	7. Wrap about 1-2 turns against the olive chenille and secure. Leave about two eye widths open to tie in the feathers.
	8. Select a pair of Hen Saddle Hackles with the shiny side facing out. Remove the lower fibers from the quills until you reach the desired length. The hackles should extend about one shank length beyond the bend of the hook.
	9. Keeping the pair of hackles together, remove the lower fibers from the length of the body where the hackles will sit. This will keep those fibers from being pushed aside by the chenille body.
	10. Place the butts on top of the hook shank in front of the body and attach the hen saddle hackles with thread wraps. Bring the hackles down parallel to the body and secure at the bend of the hook with a first ribbing wrap. This first wrap is critical as you want the hackle to be tightly pulled down the shank. The hackle should be vertical and centered on the shank. Use a bodkin to open a space between the hackle fibers for the wire to travel through. The wire should make contact with the bare guill of the hackle not the fibers.
	11. Spirol wrap the ribbing wire forward, anchoring the hackles each wrap. Apply pressure to the ribbing wire in a vertical motion as to not twist the wing.
	12. Once the ribbing reaches the front of the body, secure with thread wraps and trim off the tag ends of the guill and wire ribbing.
	13. Attach another Hen saddle hackle by the tip behind the eye. The curve of the hackle should face the back,
	14. Wrap a thick collar with 4-5 turns, each turn directly in front of the other. Do not overlap the fibers as you want these to move freely. Secure with thread wraps and whip finish.