The Green Drake's spinner — named by Walt Dette and Ted Townsend in 1930 for the black-and-white of funeral clothes. When the big drakes return at dusk as ghost-white spinners with smoky wings, the largest fish in the pool lose their caution for half an hour. This is the fly for that half hour.
1. Thread base — Attach white thread and wrap to the bend.
2. Tails — Tie in 3 long moose body hairs, splayed.
3. Body hackle prep — Tie in a white saddle hackle by the tip at the bend.
4. Body — Bind a strand of white poly yarn along the shank and wrap it forward for an even cream-white body to the 3/4 point.
5. Palmer & clip — Wind the white hackle forward over the body in close turns. Tie off, then clip it short all around — a stubble that floats the heavy fly flush.
6. Wings — Tie in two barred flank feathers (teal classic; mallard works) upright and divided, or slanted back spent-wise for the late drift.
7. Hackle — Wind a badger hackle 3–4 turns at the wings. Tie off.
8. Head — Neat head, whip finish, cement.
