streamer hook of choice. I really like these for this particular pattern. Edit: it should be noted that I glue in between several steps to give it more durability. Yesterdays first fly landed over 30 fish before it started to fall apart. I could still fish it now even if I wanted to....but I swapped it out though just for something a little more full-bodied.
I like the 140 for lighter bucktail work and I have a lot of it, so just used it for this....works great. I use 210 for most of my tiger musky stuff.
small clump of trash panda (Finn Raccoon for the discerning types). leave guard hairs in. I like the stuff from the strips rather than patches as there seems to be more guard hairs. I also tie this exact same fly with craft fur here. Both work fine, but I feel that these kick a little bit better while the craft fur may be a little easier to cast (should be a non-issue because targeting the larger Big C or Willy Smallies, you should be throwing a 7 or 8wt anyway).
eyes or no eyes...I don't think it matters, but it might. I caught tons of fish on the OG version of this fly with no eyes. I prefer plastic dumbell eyes. I just used a copic marker to add pupils.
estaz or similar
flashbou brush...tease it out
blue pearl flashbou (3-4 long strands folded in half)
3" EP brush. I like the white with black tips as it gives the overall pattern more depth (to my eye), but fish probably don't care. 2 wraps behind the eyes, then just fill up to the eye of the hook. You've gotta tease this stuff out every couple of wraps.
gills, and done.
Disclaimer: Just in case someone sees this and thinks that it's THEIR pattern that they're making money off of and I'm infringing on your "copyright", just know this: I don't give a fuck. nothing at this point is all that original....
I like the 140 for lighter bucktail work and I have a lot of it, so just used it for this....works great. I use 210 for most of my tiger musky stuff.
small clump of trash panda (Finn Raccoon for the discerning types). leave guard hairs in. I like the stuff from the strips rather than patches as there seems to be more guard hairs. I also tie this exact same fly with craft fur here. Both work fine, but I feel that these kick a little bit better while the craft fur may be a little easier to cast (should be a non-issue because targeting the larger Big C or Willy Smallies, you should be throwing a 7 or 8wt anyway).
eyes or no eyes...I don't think it matters, but it might. I caught tons of fish on the OG version of this fly with no eyes. I prefer plastic dumbell eyes. I just used a copic marker to add pupils.
estaz or similar
flashbou brush...tease it out
blue pearl flashbou (3-4 long strands folded in half)
3" EP brush. I like the white with black tips as it gives the overall pattern more depth (to my eye), but fish probably don't care. 2 wraps behind the eyes, then just fill up to the eye of the hook. You've gotta tease this stuff out every couple of wraps.
gills, and done.
Disclaimer: Just in case someone sees this and thinks that it's THEIR pattern that they're making money off of and I'm infringing on your "copyright", just know this: I don't give a fuck. nothing at this point is all that original....
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