Streamer · Baitfish · Trout · Advanced · 1 version
Joe Penich
Hook Mustad hook on a 1/4 oz jig head
Thread White, red at the collar, black for the head Semperfli Nano Silk 12/0 and 18/0 white
Materials
Monofilament, 85 lb (3/4 inch, eye stalk)
3D dragon eyes, 6mm Orange d dragon eyes mm (2)
Polar fibre Tan carapace (belly and sides)
Shimmer Fringe Brown permanent marker (side)
Polar fibre Yellow mcflylon (flank)
Polar fibre Brown permanent marker (back)
Polar fibre Black ostrich herl (back, front sections)
Polar fibre White uni stretch (belly, front section)
Ice Dub Light orange ice dub (rear, split thread)
Ice Dub Orange ice dub (around the eyes, split thread)
Ice Dub Hot orange ice dub (in front of the eyes, split thread)
Flash Orange holographic tinsel (1 strand per side)
Rabbit strip, dyed Orange and yellow rabbit strip dyed (throat)
Cree grizzly hackle tips (2, above the eyes)
Permanent markers Brown and red markings (parr markings)
How to tie it
Make the eye stalk: clamp the centre of a 3/4 inch piece of 85 lb mono, melt and flatten both exposed ends with a lighter, then epoxy a 6mm orange 3D dragon eye to each flat side and let it cure completely.
Start thread about a quarter of the way back behind the jig head, wrap a base, then figure-eight the mono eye stalk in from underneath and cement it.
Build the rear body in layers behind the eyes: tan polar fibre underneath, brown Shimmer Fringe on the opposite side, yellow polar fibre on top slightly longer, brown polar fibre longer again. Each layer slightly longer than the last is what gives the whole fly a fish-shaped taper rather than a shaggy tube.
Spin light orange Ice Dub in a split thread and wrap it back to the base of the eyes, then add a second, shorter set of wings: tan underneath and on the sides, brown on top.
Spin orange Ice Dub and wrap it behind, between and in front of the eyes, then add brown on top, yellow underneath and black over the top in front of the eyes.
Bind all the fibres, top, bottom and sides, tight behind the eyes with about a dozen wraps, add a single strand of orange flash on each side shorter than the wing, then wrap red thread over the white collar and cement it.
In front of the eyes, spin hot orange Ice Dub to the halfway point, add a shorter white polar fibre belly and a longer black back to keep the taper, tie an orange and yellow rabbit strip in underneath as a throat and two cree grizzly hackle tips above the eyes. Taper the butts behind the jig head, cover with black thread, then add brown and red parr markings with permanent marker and finish the head.