It’s been a while, but the refit is finished at last. A lot more work than originally planned but worth it..
So here we go again with some more step by steps.
This one is the Ace of Spades.

HOOK – 4X #10
SILK – Black 6/0 (I’ve use red here, a minor variation I sometimes use)
BODY – Black Chenille
RIB – Medium Silver Oval
WING/TAIL – 4 Black Hen Hackles
THROAT – Natural Guinea Fowl
OVER WING – Bronze Mallard.

STEP 1
Mount the hook in the vice and wrap the thread to the tail, catching in the medium oval underneath the shank as you go.



STEP 2
Take a length of black chenille expose the core by stripping the chenille from it with your finger and thumb. Then tie it in on top of the shank.



STEP 3
Wrap the chenille forward and tie of at the head.



STEP 4
Take four hen hackles and place them together, all with dull side innermost, then offer them up to the hook and judge for length. Here I have shown the maximum length I would use. The longer the tail part the more problems you will have with it wrapping round the hook.




STEP 5
Once you are happy with the length strip the bottom fibres away. You can do each feather individually or as I have done and I think the best way, all four at once



STEP 6
Now holding the hackles in position transfer your grip to your other hand and strip away the top fibres at the tie in point as shown.



STEP 7
Tie the four hackles in on top of the shank as shown.



STEP 8
Now hold the hackles in place and stroke the fibres up, a little fly tyers glue helps here.



STEP 9
Now wrap the rib in evenly spaced turns through the hackles and tie off at the head.



STEP 10
Invert the hook in the vice and tie in a bunch of guinea fowl as a false beard.



STEP 11
Select a piece of bronze Mallard by stroking it to right angles to the stem and cutting off.



Then fold in half, dull side inner most.



STEP 12
Offer the over-wing up and tie in so that it folds over the Matuka style wing.



Then whip finish and varnish for the completed fly.



There are quite a few variations of the Ace of Spades, chief amongst them is substituting dye blue guinea fowl for the natural, when it is then called the Queen of Spades.
When tying this one I prefer a larger head as shown, but with the black I tie it with a smaller head. Don’t know that it makes a difference, but I like it.
Bronze Mallard is a delicate feather so try to handle it as little as possible. If it still falls apart on you don’t worry, once it’s wet you won’t know the difference.

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ukflydressing A UK based fly tying site packed full of flyting tips and photographic step by steps. Now with added fly fishing section.

It would of looked better if you used black thread for the whip finish. But its still deadly looking, The season is nearly over and all the fish are chasing fry and lures on first sight.

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Cromie

Do you read the words or just look at the pictures?

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A forum post should be like a skirt. Long enough to cover the subject matter, but short enough to remain interesting.

Sorry Cromie, I'll run any future step by steps past you first for approval

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ukflydressing A UK based fly tying site packed full of flyting tips and photographic step by steps. Now with added fly fishing section.

Yeah, its the worst looking Ace Of Spades i've ever seen.

Who is the blind, two fingered kenyan who tied that?

Is this David Blunketts new job?

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www.paypalsucks.com

I'll give you blind you you ... ......... ...... ....... .. . ... ...... ....... .... .....

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ukflydressing A UK based fly tying site packed full of flyting tips and photographic step by steps. Now with added fly fishing section.

Reminds me of one called the 'Steelhead Matuka.' The 'red head' is optional, but actually used frequently for the colour contrast.

Cromie,

You misunderstand. Scotsfly was doing you a favor. Really. The red head makes this fly much more visible as it drops down into the water at the end of your forty yard cast. To better detect that immediate take

Cheers,
Hans W

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www.paypalsucks.com

Ha Ha!

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[COLOR="Blue"]"A fish seen is a fish nearly caught"[/COLOR]