Bodkin / Patterns

Hot Taddy Olive

Streamer · Trout · Intermediate · 1 version

Classic Recipe

  • Hook Longshank lure / wet-fly hook, Kamasan B830 or B175, #8-10, #8-10
  • Thread Olive 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 Olive UTC 140 denier (-)
  • Tail Olive marabou (long, ~2") (1 plume)
  • Body Olive chenille (or olive Fritz for flash) (1 length)
  • Rib (optional) Fine gold 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 olive thread and run to the bend.
  2. Tie in a long olive marabou tail at least twice the shank length so it undulates like a tadpole; optionally add a couple of strands of pearl Krystal Flash.
  3. Tie in the olive chenille (or olive Fritz) at the bend, plus a strand of tinsel if ribbing.
  4. Wrap the chenille forward, building the fat tadpole head toward the front, to just behind the bead; tie off. Spiral the rib forward if used and lock off.
  5. Bulk the body up behind the bead for the big-headed tadpole profile, build the thread collar (fl. orange if using a thread hot-head), whip finish and cement.

Tying videos

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