How to Tie the Sulphur Spinner Fly

Learn how to tie the Sulphur Spinner Fly pattern, including step-by-step instructions, a video tutorial, pictures, and much more. Improve your fly-tying skills here.

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Don Ward came up with this version of a sulfur spinner. This hatch lasts most of the summer and tends to be towards the evening. The addition of some UV material as a wing case can make this fly easier to see in low light condition. This is always a good fly for your dry fly box

Material List

• Hook: TMC 100 in size 14
• Thread: Danville 6/0 in Yellow
• Tail: Hairline Barred Mayfly Tails in Light Dun
• Abdomen: Hairline Turkey Biots in Yellow
• Wing: EP fiber in White
• Thorax: Superfine Dubbing in Amber
• Wing Case: Hedron Glow in the Dark Flashabou in White

Step One

Begin the pattern by establishing a thread base for the wing to rest on. Run the thread beginning a few eye lengths behind the hook eye and stopping near the point.

Step Two

Secure a two-inch section of EP Fiber over the base with crossing wraps to help develop a wing on either side of the hook. Before moving on, trim the wing material to around the shank’s length.

Step Three

Next, run the thread from behind the wing to the bend, then tie on several strands of the Mayfly Tail fibers. Like the wing, the tail should run about the same length, extending past the curve. Clip the forward-facing excess material before moving on.

Step Four

We’re using turkey biot for the Sulphur Spinner’s body. Secure the tip-end on the shank’s side and below the wing, then run the thread to the bend while leaving the tag-end intact.

Step Five

Finish the body by making overlapping wraps with the turkey biot stand’s tag-end and securing it near the initial tie-on spot.

Step Six

Since a Sulphur spinner fall occurs primarily in the evening, the glow-in-the-dark Flashabou we’re using for the wingcase also acts as a sighter. Secure several fibers behind the wing at the center of the material, then fold the forward-facing stands rearward and make several more security wraps.

Step Seven

Moving onto the thorax, apply a pinch of dubbing to the thread and make several turns behind the wing. Next, make X-wraps between the wings on both sides of the shank, then advance the thread to the eye.

Step Eight

Finish the wingcase by gently pulling the Flashabou forward and between the wings, securing the fibers behind the eye, then trimming the extra material.

Step Nine

After building a quick head, complete a whip finish, and the Sulphur Spinner is ready to hit the water.