Bodkin / Patterns

Feather Game Changer

Streamer · Trout · Smallmouth Bass · Largemouth Bass · Pike · Intermediate · 1 version

Classic Recipe

  • Hook Gamakatsu SL12S Short front, Ahrex NS172 middle, Fish-Skull Articulated Fish Spines, 1/0 front, 4 middle
  • Thread white UTC 140 or 100D GSP

Materials

  • Spines Articulated Fish Spines, 10mm and 15mm (4-6)
  • Tail White saddle hackle or marabou (1-2)
  • Body Hen saddle feathers (Whiting American or CDL hen) (many)
  • Prop/filler Chocklett's Filler Flash, pearl/gray (as needed)
  • Front hook Gamakatsu SL12S Short #1/0 (1)
  • Head Contrasting hen saddle (optional) (2-3 feathers)
  • Cement UV resin or Zap-A-Gap on each segment (small drops)

How to tie it

  1. Start on the smallest 10mm spine: tie in a short saddle or marabou tail, then wrap one hen saddle feather like a wet-fly hackle, sweeping fibers back. Whip finish and glue.
  2. Link the next spine through the eye of the first. On each segment, first build a sparse base of Filler Flash, it props the feathers out so a few hackles create a full body without weight, then wrap 1-2 hen saddles over it, always stroking fibers rearward.
  3. Continue segment by segment, stepping up to 15mm spines and slightly longer-fibered feathers so the body tapers up toward the front.
  4. Add the middle hook (Ahrex NS172) as one of the segments if using a mid-hook version; dress it exactly like a spine segment.
  5. Link the front hook, and dress the front two segments with the largest, webbiest feathers. Optionally a contrasting color for the head.
  6. Sweep everything back, build a small neat head, whip finish, glue, and trim the body to a baitfish taper: deeper at the shoulders, tapering to the tail.

Tying videos

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