[steelhead]

If you want to get a bigger, more flaired profile with bucktail, oyu can do it in a couple ways. I'll try to describe two.

First, you can do it by building up the body material in one spot right behind where you are going to tie in the bucktail at the head of the fly. If I'm using body braid, for example, I'll take 5 or 6 turns of braid, so that i get anicely shaped bump aobut 3/126" behind the eye of the hook. When you tie in the bucktail, cinch the thread down and back agaianst the built up bump in the body and the bucktail will fliar up and away from the shank of the hook.

The second technique for getting bucktail to flair is called reverse tying. IN this technique, you tie the bucktail in facing forward. Then, you fold it back on itself and take several wraps of thread in front of the folded back bucktail hair. for this technique, I use an empty plastic ball point pen that I can slide over thn shank of the hook to push the bucktail back until I grasp iut with my other hand. then I remove the tube and do my wraps in front of the bucktail.

Here's a picture of two flies done using these techniques.

PS: If you're in the Newport area on the 21st of February, I will be tying at the Saltwater Edge Fly Fest (check their website for details) and I would be happy to show you how to tie a fly using these techniques in person.