The Icelandic fly Snaelda

From the of Vulcanos and great Salmon rivers comes the Snaelda pattern. There are many versions in the Snaelda family but the most common ones must be the Orange/Yellow/Black version or the whole Black one. It's a very popular fly in Scotland, Russia and of course Iceland. I tie my Snaeldas with two diffrent bodies. I use yarn on one version and on the other I use Dubbing spun in a loop. The Dubbing version is my own favorite and it gives the fly some more attitude I think. You can tie this pattern in all diffrent sizes and use it through the whole season.

Pattern Recipe:

Tread: Black

Tube: Eumer Black

Tail: Yellow Bucktail, Orange Bucktail tyed in backward and the folded back. This will give the tail more volym with less material. 2 strands of Yellow Holo Flashabou and 2 Strands of Orange Holo Flashabou tied in over the Bucktail.

Ribb: Oval Silver Tinsel or Twisted Mimi Flat Braid.

Body: Black Dubbing in a loop and brushed out or Black Yarn. The body is cone shaped and should thickest at the back and thinest at the head. To shape the body and also add weight to the fly I use Eumer Craw Fish tubes or a reversed Tear Drop Tubes.

Hackle: First a short Yellow Cock Hackle and then a Orange Soft Hackle.

Head: Eumer Cone Head in Black or Fl Orange.


Even that the Snaelda looks like a simple fly it's not that easy to tie. It can be hard to get the cone shaped body in the right propotion but with some practise and with help from the cone shaped Eumer Tubes the flies will look good in no time.