Bodkin / Patterns

SOH Streamer

Streamer · Trout · Advanced · 1 version

Tyer Recipe

  • Hook Daiichi 2710 long-shank streamer hook, #2-8 (tied on a #4)
  • Thread Black or to match the body 6/0

Materials

  • Eyes Brass material (One pair, medium)
  • Tail Olive marabou (2 marabou plumes, tips matched)
  • Body Olive chenille (Sparkle chenille)
  • Wing Natural rabbit zonker strip (One rabbit zonker strip, about a hook length)
  • Legs Black rubber (Rubber legs, two per side)
  • Hackle Natural hackle (One long hen feather (schlappen also works))

How to tie it

  1. Mount a #4 streamer hook, start the thread behind the eye and lash a pair of medium brass eyes on with tight X-wraps.
  2. Take the thread to the bend. Match the tips of two marabou plumes and tie them in as a tail about a shank length long; instead of cutting the butts right away, wrap the thread forward over them to keep the underbody an even diameter, then trim and return the thread to the bend.
  3. Strip the fibers off the end of a length of olive sparkle chenille to expose the bare core and tie the core in at the bend; run the thread forward to the 75% point.
  4. Wrap the chenille forward in touching turns, woolly-bugger style, and tie it off at the 75% point; trim.
  5. Prepare a natural rabbit zonker strip by cutting a point on the tie-in end. Lay it along the fly to measure about a hook length or slightly longer, hold your thumb at the mark, pull the hair back and cut the hide from the back so you don't cut off the good fibers.
  6. Lash the pointed end of the zonker down firmly just behind the brass eyes so the strip lies over the body.
  7. Add black rubber legs, two per side: loop each strand over the thread and draw it down onto the side of the shank (inverting the bobbin to do the far side); slide them into position and trim to about half their length.
  8. Tie in a long hen hackle by the tip behind the legs, move the thread up against the eyes, and wrap: one turn behind the legs, one between them, and the last one in front, splitting the fibers as you go; take two turns if there is feather left.
  9. Tie off, then tease the webby fibers apart with your scissor tips or a bodkin so they don't stay matted.
  10. Half hitch, whip finish and add a drop of head cement.

Tying videos

← All fly patterns