Bodkin / Patterns

Jenkin's Specialist Booby

Dry Fly · Egg · Trout · Intermediate · 1 version

Classic Recipe

  • Hook Wide-gape wet/lure hook (Kamasan B175 or Fulling Mill barbless), #10-12, #10-12
  • Thread White (or to match body) 70 denier / 8-0

Materials

  • Eyes (booby) Booby foam eyes (paired foam balls), white. Tied at the hook eye for strong buoyancy (1 pair)
  • Tail Marabou, white. A generous plume (a fry imitation) (1 plume)
  • Tail flash Pearl Krystal Flash or 'sparkler' flash strands over the tail (6-8 strands)
  • Body Pearl chenille or pearl Fritz/Cactus chenille (the 'sparkler' body) (-)

How to tie it

  1. Start the thread just behind the eye and tie in a pair of white booby foam eyes with tight figure-eight wraps so they sit across the hook at the front. The foam makes the head buoyant.
  2. Run the thread to the bend and tie in a white marabou tail about a shank length or more, plus a few strands of pearl Krystal Flash for sparkle (this is a simple fry imitation).
  3. Tie in pearl chenille (or pearl Fritz) at the tail and wind it forward to just behind the foam eyes to form a flashy body.
  4. Build a neat head between the body and the foam eyes, whip finish, and varnish. Keep it deliberately simple.
  5. Because the foam eyes float, on a sinking line the fly hovers up off the bottom and dives seductively on the strip-and-pause.

Tying videos

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