The Humpy is one of the most recognizable Western attractor dry flies. The deer hair hump traps air for unsinkable flotation, making it perfect for rough freestone pocket water. Yellow suggests stoneflies and caddis; red is a general attractor; the Royal Humpy adds the peacock-floss-peacock body of the Royal Coachman.
1. Thread base — Attach yellow thread behind the eye and build a base to the bend.
2. Tail — Tie in a small bunch of elk hair at the bend, extending one hook-gap past the bend.
3. Deer hair prep — Tie in a substantial bunch of deer hair at the bend just forward of the tail. The butts should point forward over the hook shank — these will form the hump and wing.
4. Underbody — Wind yellow thread forward from the deer hair tie-in to the 2/3 point to build a yellow underbody.
5. Hump & wing — Pull the deer hair forward over the underbody and tie down firmly at the 2/3 point. Pull the forward-extending hair tips upright and divide into two wings with figure-eight wraps.
6. Hackle — Tie in one grizzly and one brown hackle behind the wings. Wind both interleaved through the thorax. Tie off and trim.
7. Head — Build a small head. Whip finish and apply head cement.
