Bodkin / Patterns

Brad's Brat

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

Classic Recipe

  • Hook Steelhead/salmon iron, 6 to 2
  • Thread Black 6/0

Materials

  • Tag Flat or oval gold tinsel (1)
  • Tail White and orange bucktail, mixed (small bunch)
  • Rib Gold tinsel (1)
  • Body Orange yarn rear half, red wool front half (1 each)
  • Collar Brown hackle (1)
  • Wing Orange bucktail over white bucktail (2 sparse clumps)

How to tie it

  1. Wrap a short gold tinsel tag at the bend, then tie in a mixed white-and-orange bucktail tail about half a shank length long.
  2. Tie in the gold rib, then wrap orange yarn over the rear half of the shank and red wool over the front half. The two-tone body is the Brat's trademark.
  3. Spiral the rib forward in 4-5 evenly spaced turns over both body halves.
  4. Take 2-3 turns of brown hackle as a collar and sweep the fibers back.
  5. Tie in a sparse white bucktail wing to the tail tip, then an orange clump over it, keeping the wing low.
  6. Form a neat black head, whip finish, and cement.

Tying videos

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