Salmon/Steelhead · Streamer · Steelhead · Advanced · 1 version
Tyer Recipe
Hook Deep water salmon single, heavy wire (Cameron B190), 1/0 or 2/0
Thread Deep red UTC 140
Materials
Mylar tinsel, size 10 gold/silver Silver side showing (One length for the tag)
French oval tinsel, large Silver oval tinsel (One length for the rib)
Uni-Yarn, regular 2X Purple uni yarn (One length for the body)
Marabou Purple marabou (One feather (the larger of the two))
Marabou Black marabou (One feather, deliberately smaller than the purple)
Crystal Flash Purple flash fibres (6-10 strands)
Bucktail Black bucktail (A modest bunch for the wing)
UV ice dubbing (optional) Purple or fuchsia uv ice dubbing (A small dubbing ball behind the collars)
How to tie it
Start the red thread just in front of the hook point and take a few turns to hold it.
Tie in the mylar gold side up so that when you wrap it it flips over to silver, then wrap the tag in touching turns to build a broad, flat silver tag; wrap the thread over the mylar rather than doubling it back. It survives fish far better this way.
Trim the mylar tag ends and use them to fill the step at the return eye so the underbody has no big shoulder.
Tie in the large silver oval rib and then the purple Uni-Yarn, keeping the butts along the shank to fill in the space over the return eye, and add a couple of half hitches. Leave plenty of clear space at the front. Crowding the eye here will leave no room for the marabou.
Wrap the yarn body in three passes, controlling tension to taper both ends into a cigar shape (the front taper especially, so the wing does not kick up) then wrap forward past the tie-off and back to lock it in.
Counter-wind the silver oval rib forward over the body so it does not sink into the yarn, and tie it off.
Optionally dub a small ball of purple UV ice dubbing at the front of the body to help the marabou flare.
Tie the purple marabou in by the tip, take one wrap before you start folding to avoid snapping the fragile tip, then stroke the fibres back and wind on one full collar; lock it in with a couple of half hitches.
Tie the smaller black marabou feather in by the tip and wind one collar in front of the purple in the same way, stroking the fibres back with damp fingers.
Tie in 6-10 strands of purple Crystal Flash at the back of the head area, then measure a bunch of black bucktail to the same length, pinch-loop it on top and bind it down.
Build a deliberately large, sloping red head. It pushes water and flares the marabou, then whip finish and cement.