Scruffy looking fly, right after the hackle is wrapped and thread counter wrapped to reinforce stem.
Hackle fibers pinched firmly to get them to lay back around the body.
I like to take the finished flies and run them in the sink to soak the hackle fibers, which further shapes them into a slender baitfish profile. The flies are allowed to air dry on an adsorbent tissue or paper towel.
Playing around with different hackle (woodduck and barred gadwall flank feathers) and bodies.
Here is one with a smooth pearlescent mylar body, wrapped over white Uni-Floss. The tinsel takes on a subtle pink glow as light passes thru the mylar and is reflected back from the white floss underbody (see bottom fly in the photo above).
One of my favorite so far, is holographic tinsel wrapped in open spirals over a white floss body. I like the glints of color as the fly moves around.
MATERIALS USED:
Hook - Mustad 3906B (Size 4)
Underbody - UNI-Stretch (White)
Tinsel Rib or Body - UTC Large Flat Pearl Tinsel or UNI-Mylar #12 (Holographic Silver)
Thread - 8/0 UNI-Thread (Red)
Hackle - Woodduck or Gadwall Flank Feathers (Natural)
Note - the materials in the article are slightly different
(Tiemco TMC200R hook/Size 2 & black thread & grouse or hen collar hackle)
Anyway, just wanted to share an simple baitfish imitation that I am excited to try.
Thanks for the inspiration Greg, and congratulations on your first article. I really enjoyed it and am excited to fish this pattern in the future.
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