Bodkin / Patterns

Flashtail Whistler

Baitfish · Striped Bass · Bluefish · Jack · Tarpon · Snook · Redfish · Roosterfish · Intermediate · 1 version

Reference Recipe

  • Hook Heavy saltwater, straight eye, #2/0-#3/0
  • Thread Red 3/0

Materials

  • Eyes Silver bead-chain or dumbbell (1 pair)
  • Flashtail Silver/pearl flashtail (20-30 strands Flashabou)
  • Tail/wing Red over yellow (2 bucktail clumps)
  • Hackle collar Grizzly hackle (2-3 large saddle hackles)
  • Body Red buzzer wrap (chenille or thread)

How to tie it

  1. Mount the hook and lash bead-chain or dumbbell eyes just behind the eye of the hook.
  2. At the bend tie in a long flashtail of silver Flashabou, roughly one-and-a-half shank lengths, the signature of Blanton's flashtail version.
  3. Over the flash tie a clump of yellow bucktail then a clump of red bucktail as the tail/wing, keeping it full and buggy.
  4. Wrap a short red chenille or thread body forward to just behind the eyes.
  5. Tie in and wind 2-3 grizzly saddle hackles as a full palmered collar so the fibers flare and pulse.
  6. Wrap the thread through and in front of the eyes to seat everything, build a red head, whip finish and cement.

Tying videos

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