Bodkin / Patterns

Jorgensen's Dirty Bird Spey

Streamer · Trout · Steelhead · Salmon · Advanced · 3 versions

Reference Recipe

  • Hook 3XL streamer/nymph hook with a stinger trailer hook on wire, 4 (front), trailer 6
  • Thread White GSP 150 denier

Materials

  • Trailer hook and connector wire Black wire (Octopus hook + intruder wire)
  • UV polar chenille Silver uv polar chenille (1 turn (tail flash))
  • Dirty Bird / Senyo dubbing Pearl blue dirty bird senyo dubbing (1 dubbing loop)
  • Ostrich herl White uni stretch (6-8 plumes (wing))
  • Mallard flank, barred Natural mallard flank (1 feather (collar))
  • Brass dumbbell eyes Silver bead chain eyes medium (4.0mm)
  • Ice Dub UV pearl ice dub (pinch (head))

How to tie it

  1. Rig the trailer: fold a length of intruder wire, thread on the small octopus hook point-up, and lash both wire tags along the front hook shank so the stinger rides a half-shank behind the bend. Trim.
  2. Return thread to the bend and wrap one turn of silver UV polar chenille as a short flashy tail, sweeping the fibers back.
  3. Spin the pearl-blue dubbing in a loop and make 2-3 turns to build a shaggy body up to the 60% mark; leave room forward.
  4. Tie in the white ostrich herl on top and around as a long, mobile wing reaching past the bend. Ostrich breathes on the swing where stiffer fibers would not.
  5. Wrap a barred mallard flank feather as a soft, sweeping collar, one to two turns, and stroke the fibers rearward.
  6. Lash the brass dumbbell on top just behind the eye with tight figure-8s so the fly swims hook-point up.
  7. Dub a small ball of UV pearl Ice Dub around and behind the eyes to form the head, whip finish, and cement.

Other versions

2 more in the app: Fly Fish Food Tie, variant 1, Fly Fish Food Tie, variant 2.

Tying videos

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