Streamer · Baitfish · Trout · Advanced · 1 version
Joe Penich
Hook Mustad C52SBLN stinger hook, 1
Thread white Semperfli Nano Silk 6/0 and 18/0
Materials
Rib Silver metal tape (flat embossed tinsel)
Body Gold middle (Ice Dub in a split thread)
Wing Light brown mottled material (rabbit strip, tied matuka style)
Collar Light brown body fly (fox fur spun in a split thread)
Throat Yellow and orange strung fuzzy fibre (dyed rabbit strip)
Gills Mottled pectoral fins (hen neck tips, left and right)
Head White uni stretch (glow bug yarn, packed and trimmed)
Markings Brown and red markings (permanent marker)
Eyes (3D eyes set in five-minute epoxy)
How to tie it
Start 6/0 thread where the head will meet the body and lay a base back to the hook point, whip finish, then start 18/0 over the same wraps and mount the flat silver tinsel.
Spin gold Ice Dub in a split thread, brush it out and wrap it forward as the body.
Prepare the rabbit strip properly: trim the hide flush with the fur, cut the strip on a taper with the fur pushed to one side, then thin the hide with curved scissors. This preparation is what gives the fly its lifelike action in the water.
Tie the strip in by the tip in front of the dubbing, then pull it back, part the fur down to the rear thread and lock the strip and hook together there before ribbing it matuka style with the flat tinsel.
Spin light brown fox fur in a split thread and wrap it in front of the rabbit strip as a collar, sweeping the fibers back as you go.
Add a yellow and orange dyed rabbit throat tight under the collar and mottled hen neck tips on each side for gills, then wrap lead wire around the whole rear of the fly to keep it clear while you work the head.
Build the head from white glow bug yarn, four pieces per segment, two each side then top and bottom, packed forward to the eye. Then comb it out at right angles, trim flat on the sides and tapered top and bottom, singe the high spots, add par marks with brown and red marker and epoxy the 3D eyes in.