Bodkin / Patterns

Deer Hair Deceiver

Baitfish · Striped Bass · Bluefish · False Albacore · Jack · Tarpon · Snook · Redfish · Sea Trout · Barracuda · Intermediate · 1 version

Reference Recipe

  • Hook Standard saltwater hook, 2/0-2
  • Thread White 3/0

Materials

  • Tail White uni stretch (4-6 saddle hackles paired convex-out)
  • Tail Flash Pearl flashabou (A few strands each side)
  • Body/Collar White uni stretch (Bucktail spun 360 degrees)
  • Wing/Back Olive, chartreuse, or blue material (Bucktail topping)
  • Throat Red buzzer wrap (Short pinch red bucktail)
  • Eyes Silver/black material (Stick-on, epoxied)

How to tie it

  1. Mount the hook and lay a thread base along the rear third.
  2. Bind a splayed saddle-hackle tail, convex sides out, about a shank-and-a-half long, with a few strands of pearl flash each side.
  3. Just ahead of the tail tie-in, spin a full collar of white bucktail around the entire shank so it flares 360 degrees. This deer-hair collar is what fills out the head and keeps the tail from fouling.
  4. Add a short red throat for the gill, then top with a veil of olive or chartreuse bucktail for the back.
  5. Pack the bucktail collar back and shape a broad baitfish head.
  6. Build a tapered thread head, set stick-on eyes, and whip finish.
  7. Coat the head with epoxy or UV resin.

Tying videos

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