Bodkin / Patterns

Rob's Big Swing Steelhead

Streamer · Salmon/Steelhead · Steelhead · Intermediate · 1 version

Tyer Recipe

  • Hook Gamakatsu T10-6X heavy salmon hook (any equivalent heavy salmon hook), #1
  • Thread Black 210 denier flat waxed (Danville's Flymaster)

Materials

  • Braided mylar piping Silver oval tinsel (Short section for the butt)
  • Seal fur / ice dub blend Purple and black seal fur with purple ice dub highlights (Enough for a thick, buggy thorax)
  • Strung neck hackle Claret strung neck hackle (1 feather)
  • Golden pheasant body feather (Indian crow substitute) Orange-red tipped golden pheasant body feather (1 feather for the wing)
  • UV resin (Solarez Bone Dry) Clear uv resin (Butt and head coating)

How to tie it

  1. Start 210 denier flat waxed thread at the rear of the shank.
  2. Cut a short section of silver braided mylar piping (leave the cloth core in), slide or lay it on the rear of the shank and tie it down so it sits flat as the butt. Whip finish and coat it with UV resin, curing it now so you do not get resin into the materials you add later.
  3. Restart the thread ahead of the butt. Judge the space you want. A longer thorax section reads better than a short one.
  4. Spin the purple and black seal fur blended with purple ice dub loosely onto the thread (or use a dubbing loop) and wrap a thick, deliberately buggy thorax forward, leaving room at the eye. Pull the fibers back so it looks right when wet.
  5. Tie in a claret strung neck hackle at the front of the thorax and wrap it as a collar, folding the fibers back as you go so they sweep rearward. Because the thread is smooth and flat, take a couple of extra tie-off turns; it lays flatter and makes a neater head.
  6. Tie the hackle off, trim the stem, and stroke all the fibers back out of the way.
  7. Select a golden pheasant body feather with the orange-red tip and tie it in flat on top as the wing, keeping it centred and neat.
  8. Build a small head, whip finish, and coat the front with UV resin, curing it under the light.

Tying videos

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