Bodkin / Patterns

Hot Taddy Cat

Streamer · Trout · Intermediate · 1 version

Classic Recipe

  • Hook Longshank lure / wet-fly hook, Kamasan B830 or B175, #8-10, #8-10
  • Thread Black 6/0 / 140 denier

Materials

  • Hook Longshank lure hook, Kamasan B830, #8-10 (1)
  • Bead / head Fluorescent hot orange (or gold) bead, or fl. orange thread hot-head (1)
  • Thread Black UTC 140 denier (-)
  • Tail Black marabou (long, ~2"), plus a few strands of black or pearl Krystal Flash ('Cat' = with flash tail) (1 plume)
  • Body Black chenille (or black Fritz for extra flash) (1 length)
  • Rib (optional) Fine silver or pearl tinsel (1 strand)

How to tie it

  1. Slide a fl. hot orange bead to the eye (or plan a fl. orange thread hot-head). Start black thread and run to the bend.
  2. Tie in a long black marabou tail at least twice the shank length so it pulses like a tadpole tail, then add a few strands of black or pearl Krystal Flash for the 'Cat' flash accent.
  3. Tie in the black chenille (or black Fritz) at the bend, plus a strand of tinsel if ribbing.
  4. Wrap the chenille forward, building a fat tadpole 'head' toward the front, up to just behind the bead; tie off. If ribbing, spiral the tinsel forward and lock off.
  5. Push the bulk of the body up behind the bead so the fly has the big-headed, long-tailed tadpole shape. Build a thread collar (fl. orange if using a thread hot-head), whip finish and cement.

Tying videos

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