Peacock barb ('herl'), one or more, depending on fly size
Hackle:
Appropriately sized soft hackle
This is a Griffiths gnat with a soft hackle. Period. For larger sizes, where you need more than one peacock barb to create volume, you can twist the strands while reinforcing with tying thread. An alternative method, yielding a better looking fly that probably is as durable as the standard reinforced fly, was recently described in Fly Fishing&Fly Tying. The author used a rib-and-counter rib technique to build up his bulk. For two strands, tie in on at the end, one at the start of the abdomen, and leave the thread at the start (eye end). First wrap the front strand back, trap with the rear strand and wrap that strand back to the front end. Tie off. For three (or any other odd number) strands, tie in two at the back and one in the front ( or n+1 at the back and n at the front for a total of2n+1 strands...). Start with wrapping a rear strand to the front, and you'll always end up right ;-).
Remember to tie in the hackle before wrapping the abdomen. Use the alternative Weilenmann hackling technique preferably.
