Bodkin / Patterns

Black Bear

Streamer · Salmon/Steelhead · Salmon · Steelhead · Intermediate · 1 version

Reference Recipe

  • Hook Up-eye black salmon/steelhead wet hook, 4-10
  • Thread Black 8/0

Materials

  • Tag Silver metal tape (Oval silver tinsel, a few turns)
  • Body Black ostrich herl (Black floss or black seal-sub dubbing)
  • Rib Silver metal tape (Oval silver tinsel)
  • Throat Black ostrich herl (Black hen hackle fibers)
  • Wing Black ostrich herl (Black bear hair or black bucktail)

How to tie it

  1. Mount the hook and start black thread behind the eye, running it back to a point above the barb.
  2. Tie in oval silver tinsel and take 3-4 tight turns for the tag, then bind the tinsel forward as your rib.
  3. Build a slim, even black body forward to the 80% mark, keeping it thin so the fly swims and sinks.
  4. Spiral the rib forward in 5 evenly spaced turns and tie off.
  5. Sweep a small bunch of black hen fibers under the shank as a throat, reaching to the hook point.
  6. Stack a sparse wing of black bear hair, bind it so the tips reach just past the bend, and taper the butts.
  7. Build a small neat head, whip finish, and add a drop of head cement.

Tying videos

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