Materials
Hook: Lighting Strike (Wapsi)
SN3 Size 8 2x heavy 3x long
Bead: Metz, Hot Bead Orange 5/32
Thread: Black 8/0
Wire: .015 lead
Tail: Red fox squirrel tail hair
Pearl Flashabou
Body: Separate then blend
Wapsi Whitlock Red Squirrel SLDW02
Cahill Cream and ginger varient
Rib: Medium oval gold French tinsel
Thorax: 5-6 turns of Peacock herl
1-½ turns partridge feather
Tying Procedure
1. Pinch down barb
2. Position bead on hook
3. Wrap 20-22 turns of .015 lead wire push under bead head
4. Wrap thread from bead head to curve of hook
5. Double fold flashabou, place behind thread toward hook and affix flat against hook sides. Cut loops.
6. Tie in 1/8 - ¼ bunch of squirrel tail to hook extend slightly on to wire. (Tail extends beyond usual placement.) Trim flashabou.
7. Blend and dub body (allow for thorax/herl and feather)
8. Reverse wrap oval gold wire on body 5 times and whip finish--don't cut thread.
9. 5-6 turns of peacock herl whip cinch.
10. 1-½ turns partridge feather whip finish and cement.
I place several beads of cement as this fly is constructed. The strikes are hard. I used 4x leader on tippet for this in day light hours and 1x after sun down.
Daylight fishing
I fish a variety of ways, but always no slack and tip down. Cast 45 degrees short distance above feeding bed, let line out maintaining tension. Depending on location, 60-70 feet is common. Expect strike anytime.
Retrieval
I work back slowly. 6-12" jerks, then reel in. Strikes are usually on the pull. Repeat but keep extending your cast from side to side down feeding channel. Casting up stream from the site of a jumping fish has worked often.
Have fun and good luck.
Tied by Bob Jensen
