Bodkin / Patterns

Joe's Smelt

Streamer · Trout · Salmon · Intermediate · 1 version

Classic Recipe

  • Hook 4x streamer, 4-8
  • Thread Red 6/0

Materials

  • Tail Red hackle fibers (small)
  • Body Silver Mylar tubing (over shank)
  • Wing Pintail or mallard flank, rolled (1 feather)
  • Throat Red paint or thread band (gill)
  • Eyes Painted yellow/black material (on head)

How to tie it

  1. Mount the 4x streamer hook and lay a red thread base to the bend.
  2. Tie in a small bunch of red hackle fibres as a short tail.
  3. Slide a length of silver Mylar tubing over the shank, bind the rear end down at the tail with red thread, then secure the front end behind the eye.
  4. Roll a pintail or mallard flank feather into a wing and set it flat over the top, tips reaching just past the tail; one feather is the whole smelt.
  5. Build a red thread band at the head as a gill.
  6. Whip finish, then paint yellow-and-black eyes on the head and lacquer over them.

Tying videos

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