Bodkin / Patterns

Craven's Dirty Hippy

Streamer · Trout · Smallmouth Bass · Intermediate · 1 version

Classic Recipe

  • Hook streamer hook (Tiemco 5263), 4-8
  • Thread tan 140 denier

Materials

  • Cone Large copper conehead (1)
  • Weight Lead wire .020 (8-10 wraps)
  • Body Tan and white fox tail (2 clumps)
  • Body 2 Tan select marabou (1-2 feathers)
  • Flash Copper and pearl Flashabou (small bunch)
  • Head UV tan Ice Dub (1 dubbing loop)
  • Eyes Stick-on 3D eyes (1 pair)

How to tie it

  1. Slide the copper cone toward the eye but leave room behind it; wrap 8-10 turns of lead just behind the cone. Craven sets the cone back from the eye so the fox and marabou flare wide around it for a fat baitfish profile.
  2. Start thread at the bend and tie in a sparse clump of white fox tail on the bottom and tan on top, spread around the shank.
  3. Tie in a few strands of copper and pearl Flashabou from the inside so the flash glints subtly through the body rather than sitting on top.
  4. Tie in tan select marabou and take a couple of wraps to build a soft, breathing collar behind the cone.
  5. Spin UV tan Ice Dub in a dubbing loop and wrap a shaggy head from the cone forward to the eye.
  6. Whip finish at the eye, then glue a 3D eye to each side of the dubbed head and brush the whole fly out so it takes a wide baitfish shape when wet.

Tying videos

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