Submitted by Dave Robinson.
2020-07-04 Demo'd by Dave Robinson in Weekly Fly Tying.
COMMENTS
- A classic western salmon fishing fly, imitates a tiny Herring.
- Once featured on a Canada Postage Stamp (https://images.app.goo.gl/zHfGFqAYYdgYGWFj8).
- On smaller hooks (#10) for catching Cutthroat, on larger hooks ie size #2 for larger salmon.
MATERIAL
- HOOK: #10 Streamer Hook Hanak H970BL (BL indicates barbless, but can use barbed, high nickel steel black colour for salt water).
- THREAD: 8/0 Black
- TAIL: Blue Saddle x2.
- RIB: Oval Silver Tinsel (gives definition to rib).
- BODY: Flat Silver Tinsel - wide ie #12 for long shank hooks.
- UNDERWING: White Polar Bear.
- CENTRE WING: White Saddle Hackle x2.
- OUTER WINGS: Blue Saddle x2.
METHOD
- HOOK: Place in vice.
- THREAD: Tie on and wrap down full length of shank to not past bend. Add several wraps at end of wrap to help hackle standup.
- TAIL: Prep feather by pulling up length to take curve out. Measure end length equal to shank length, strip other barbs up and cut off excess. Repeat with second feather. Line up two tails, flatten stems with pliers, tie on just in front of bump. If don't stand up enough then put 1-2 wraps behind feathers.
- RIBBING/BODY: Tie on just infant of tail, with end out past tail. Tie on flat Tinsel in front of oval tinsel, with gold side out and excess to back. Tie on down to tail feathers, then wrap thread smoothly up to hook eye, tie on with half hitch. Wrap tinsel with silver out and little overlap (optionally with hackle pliers) up to hook eye such that no back thread visible underneath. Tie on with thread and cut off excess. Wrap oval rib up shank in opposite rotation to eye, tie on and cut off excess. Wrap thread multiple times where tinsel ends to create a slopping head (for wings to stick up from).
- UNDERWING: Take clump of hair, remove fuzzy hairs, measure such that similar length as tail. Tie on at front such that hairs stick up, cut off front excess, wrap on well with thread.
- CENTRE WING: Measure from eye to tail, strip excess barbs back and cut to length. Repeat, place/mate together. Crush end of stems flat, place on top of shank behind fly, tie-in sticking up and trim off excess.
- OUTER WING: Measure little longer than white wings, pull back from barbs, repeat. Tie one feather on far side of hook behind eye such that sticks up and out. Repeat on near side with other feather at same angle. Pull both excess back then cut off to help ensure feathers don't pull out.
- FINISH: With thread build up tapered head, whip finish. Manipulate wings to ensure in optimal place, head cement to fix, ensure eye is clear with feather stem.