Bodkin / Patterns

Pick 'Yer Pocket

Dry Fly · Streamer · Largemouth Bass · Smallmouth Bass · Panfish · Advanced · 1 version

Reference Recipe

  • Hook Steelhead shank with trailing hook loop, Size 4 stinger hook on a 25-35mm shank
  • Thread Black 3/0 (210 denier)

Materials

  • Trailing hook loop Black shank (20-30 lb braid)
  • Dumbbell eyes Silver bead chain eyes medium (1 pair, medium)
  • Tail / wing Pink saddle hackle + flash (2-4 hackles, few strands flash)
  • Body Black ostrich herl (Ice Dub / Antron)
  • Rear collar hackle Black hackle (1 saddle)
  • Deer hair collar Black deer hair (1 stacked clump)
  • Front hackle collar Pink rear hackle (1-2 schlappen/saddle)

How to tie it

  1. Fold a length of braid into a loop and bind it along the shank, leaving a trailing loop off the back to carry the stinger hook; run the hook on and lock the loop down.
  2. Tie a pair of silver dumbbell eyes on top near the front of the shank so the fly rides hook-point up.
  3. At the rear of the shank tie in a few pink saddle hackles and a pinch of flash for a tail/wing about one-and-a-half shank lengths long.
  4. Dub a black body forward over roughly two-thirds of the shank.
  5. Tie in a black saddle hackle and palmer 2-3 turns, stroking the fibers rearward as a first collar.
  6. Stack a collar of black deer hair around the shank and sweep it back for bulk and pulse.
  7. Add a pink hackle collar in front, figure-8 dub around the dumbbell eyes to cover the wraps, whip finish and cement.

Tying videos

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