October Fly of the Month

Mark’s “No Name” Bucktail Streamer

Dean Wellman, BRSC Financial Secretary – Brule, WI

This fly was originally tied by my brother in the 1980s.  We had been trying different variations of bucktail streamers for fall steelhead.  We also started using pieces of rabbit strip as a throat instead of traditional hackle.  This is a simple tie that chrome steelhead like to take on the swing in the lower river.  Full sinking lines or sink tips are the best for getting the fly down in the deeper faster runs.

Recipe

1. Hook: Daiichi 2050 size 1.5 (in photo) or Tiemco TMC 300 in size 4 – 8.
2. Thread: Olive Danville 210 Denier flat waxed.  Start the thread 3/16^th of an inch behind the hook eye and overwrap the hook shank rearward to a position where the thread hangs just before the hook barb. Return the thread to about 5/16^th of an inch from the hook eye.
3. Tag: Large silver, gold, or copper UTC wire. Attach a 5-inch piece of wire to the side of the hook shank and overwrap to the hook barb below.  Wrap the thread forward about 1/8^th  Make 5 or 6 touching wraps of wire and tie it down under the hook shank.  Bend the wire down and out of your way and wrap the thread to about 3/8^th of an inch from the hook eye. The remaining wire will be used as the rib.
4. Tail: Small bunch of brown bucktail hair.  These are the fine hairs that are not hollow on an undyed white-tailed deer’s tail.  Make the tail about as long as the starting point of the thread to the end of the thread above the hook barb.  Tie them in on top of the hook shank.  Overwrap to the end point of the thread and return the thread to the starting point. Trim off the excess hair at an angle before you get to the start point.
5. Body: Medium dark olive chenille.  Attach a 6-inch piece at the starting point and over wrap it back to the wire, which will be used for the rib.  Return the thread to about ¼ inch from the hook eye.  Wrap the chenille forward to the thread, tie it off, and trim excess.
6. Rib: Wrap the unused wire over the chenille to the starting point in equally-spaced wraps and tie off.  Trim excess.
7. Throat: Dark olive or black rabbit strip.  Turn the strip upside down, exposing the hide.  Carefully cut 2 pieces about 3/8^th of an inch long so as not to cut the attached hair.  Turn the fly upside down in the vise.  The next step is a little tricky.  Take one of the pieces and pull the hair so it stands up on the hide.  Pinch the hair between your thumb and forefinger (the hide should be up) and place the piece across the hook shank with the hair facing rearward on top of the hook shank.  Secure the hair to the shank close to the hide with a pinch wrap and then a couple firm wraps.  The hide will form a bit of a “U” over the hook shank at this point.  Carefully trim off the hide and make a couple more secure wraps.  Repeat again with the second piece of rabbit strip.  Turn the fly back to the “up” position in the vise when you’re satisfied with the throat.
8. Wing:  Small bunch of brown bucktail hair.  Clean out the short under-fur hairs while holding the tips firmly in your fingers.  This clump will be a little thicker than the one used for the tail.  You should have about 3/16^th of an inch of room at the hook eye to attach the wing.  With the wing extending about the same length as the tail, attach it with a couple light wraps and then tighter wraps.  The wing should sit on top of the hook shank.  Trim the hair at an angle, and make strong wraps over the cut hairs ends.  Make a nice head and whip finish. Finish with UV glue or head cement.