This
fly is an early season favorite of mine. It
is a variation of the Picket Pin. I fish it
as a searching pattern, either quartering
upstream to likely holding water or quartering
downstream and letting it swing. In size 10
-12, it works well in tandem behind a heavier
fly like a Woolly Bugger or weighted nymph.
The key to tying this fly is to tie the squirrel
tail hair sparse, both in the tail and wing.
If you lay the squirrel tail flat, you will
notice that the outside edges have white tips.
This is the hair you want to use for this
fly. Squirrel hair is slippery and takes a
little practice to get it to stay in place.
Hook:
# 6-12 3X long Thread: 6/0 Black Tail: Squirrel Tail Body: Mylar Tinsel Wing: Squirrel Tail Head: Peacock Herl
1)
Debarb hook. Wrap thread back to bend.Tie in
stacked clump of squirrel tail hair for tail.
About a hook gap in length. Wrap thread forward
over hair 2/3 hook length. Clip excess hair.
2)
Tie in tinsel. Here I've used Mylar Holograph
tinsel. Wind tinsel back to tail and then forward
to tie in point. Tie off and clip.
3)
Tie in a sparse clump of squirrel tail hair
for wing. After a couple of thread wraps position
the hair on top and add a drop of cement to
the wraps. Clip excess at an angle and cover
with thread. Wing should be same length as tail.
4)
Tie in 4 -5 strands of peacock herl. Wrap thread
forward to hook eye. Wrap herl forward and tie
off. Clip excess herl. Form thread head and
tie off. Cement head.
