Bodkin / Patterns

Bondorew Bucktail

Baitfish · Striped Bass · Advanced · 1 version

As tied by LIFliesMike

  • Hook Eagle Claw 254, 3/0
  • Thread 210 denier

Materials

  • Tail support White bucktail
  • Tail One white and one yellow flatwing saddle hackle, tied in so the white is dull side up
  • Tail flash 8 to 10 strands pearl Crystal Flash, then 2 long strands dark green Flashabou (olive used on camera)
  • Tail hair About 20 strands Fishair (blended squimpish used on camera)
  • Body Flat braid (pearl per the recipe; silver used on camera)
  • Throat About 20 white bucktail
  • Collar top Yellow bucktail, then blue bucktail, then a dark blue bucktail topping
  • Head Head Cement
  • Any Flash (flashabou used here)
  • Saddle Hackle (Flatwing Style)
  • Fishair or Squimpish (any synthetic will do)

How to tie it

  1. Start the thread, work it back to the hook point and build a small thread layer so the materials do not slip.
  2. Tie in about 20 pieces of white bucktail around the hook point as a support for the hackle tail (fly about 4.5 to 5 inches on the 3/0 hook).
  3. Tie in a single white flatwing hackle upside down (dull side up), loosely first, then tighten once it sits where you want it.
  4. Tie in 8 to 10 strands of pearl Crystal Flash (four strands folded in half), reaching about the end of the feather.
  5. Tie in a single yellow hackle in the same loose-then-tight way, slightly longer than the white.
  6. Tie in two long strands of dark green Flashabou, looped over so there are four, and trim at about the end of the hackle.
  7. Fold a pinch of about 20 strands of Fishair in half and tie it in so it is nearly the length of the hackle.
  8. Tie in the body braid with a little super glue (or head cement) to hold it down, and wrap it forward neatly, leaving room at the front.
  9. Tie off the braid, wrap in front and behind a couple of times and trim flush.
  10. Tie in a sparse throat of about 20 white bucktail hairs, tapered, about two thirds of the length of the fly, on the belly.
  11. Tie in a dozen or more strands of yellow bucktail on top, spread slightly to the sides and top.
  12. Tie in blue bucktail on top, about equal length to the white and yellow.
  13. Top with about 10 to 12 strands of darker blue bucktail, removing the short hairs first.
  14. Whip finish and add head cement.

Tying videos

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