Bodkin / Patterns

Black Sheep Tube

Salmon/Steelhead · Streamer · Salmon · Steelhead · Advanced · 1 version

Tyer Recipe

  • Hook Copper tube (pairs with your choice of trailing hook), Tube fly - 3/32 in copper tube, 1 in long
  • Thread Red 140 denier

Materials

  • Uni-French oval tinsel Silver oval tinsel (small (tag/top spine))
  • Uni floss Black floss (body, 2 passes)
  • Bucktail Black bucktail (2 sparse clumps (first and third wing layers))
  • Bucktail Yellow bucktail (slightly heavier clump (middle wing layer))
  • Jungle cock nails Natural jungle cock (2 small)
  • UV glue and top coat Clear head cement (head)

How to tie it

  1. Mount the 1-inch copper tube and start the red thread at the front; lash the small oval silver tinsel along the top of the tube to the rear, then fold it back over itself on top and bind. This builds a spine that keeps the fly riding upright.
  2. Wrap a short silver tag at the rear with the tinsel; tie off.
  3. Tie in the black floss and make a double pass down and back for the body, the underside needn't be neat; tube flies are fishing flies.
  4. Tie in a sparse clump of black bucktail on top, reaching back over the tag; two firm wraps, trim the butts, bind down, and return the thread.
  5. Tie in the yellow bucktail on top of the black. Make this middle layer slightly heavier than the other two, since it's sandwiched and easily overwhelmed; check it shows equally on both sides.
  6. Tie in a second sparse clump of black bucktail on top to complete the black-yellow-black sandwich.
  7. Add a small jungle cock nail to each side: a couple of soft wraps, slide each into matching position, then firm wraps; trim the stems.
  8. Build a neat red head, whip finish, and coat with UV glue plus a top coat.

Tying videos

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