Monday, March 19, 2012

Streamer Versatility


"Grizzly" it's not just for "Buggers"
These feathers are very versatile and can be used for many streamer patterns. When combined with other saddle hackle can give very life like and natural looking forage fish patterns. When you feel creative and add color you can achieve some very good attractor patterns.
Most grizzly hackle can be a bit on the narrow side, especially when purchased as "bugger packs" but their price is reasonable and when teamed up with wider saddle hackle the effects can work well.




The Brown Olive Ghost with its grizzly hackle gives this streamer that shadow effect.


The vibrant colors of this streamer with its yellow grizzly hackle makes a fine flashy attractor pattern, and possibly a natural "Perch" pattern.


This pattern uses a natural grizzly feather. It could perhaps represent a variety of minnows found everywhere. Or it can work very effectively as a "smelt" pattern, for which it was tied to represent. "Hogsback"


So try a few grizzly streamers, you'll be surprised how good some of your patterns can be.


30 comments:

  1. Gotta love grizzly!

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  2. Such lovely work, and so well depicted. THANKS for sharing!

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  3. I think grizzly patterns are extremely effective. The pattern's contrast helps to make the streamer more visible and simulate a number of characteristics associated with bait fish. I like the last one especially. Nice job.

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  4. Lovely flies! Coincidentally i was looking at bugger packs earlier this morning, trying to get a pure white one for deceivers was looking at the whiting bugger /deceiver pack, no luck in the uk.

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    Replies
    1. Col,
      Thanks.
      Perhaps you can try to buy them online.
      Worth a try.

      Delete
  5. Those are some masterpieces for sure. Taking grizzly to a whole other level. Nicely done and thanks for sharing. Tight Lines

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  6. They are beautifully tied streamers Brk Trt, i really like the way you photograph your flies on the wood grain.

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    Replies
    1. brian,
      Thanks.
      That drift wood and weathered pieces really highlight them.

      Delete
  7. It seems a shame to put something that looks that good in the water.

    Mark

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    Replies
    1. Shoreman,
      Thanks.
      Most of the time they wind up in a fly box, and sometimes in a trouts jaw.

      Delete
  8. Wow. Beautiful. You continue to inspire. Thanks.

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    Replies
    1. Jim Yaussy Albright,
      Thanks.
      Streamers have a special effect on most people.

      Delete
  9. Your last creation looks to be a big winner trolling for landlocks. That's not to say the others wouldn't be but those smelt patterns are top of the heap!

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    Replies
    1. penbayman,
      Thanks.
      Ice out, smelt patterns and trolling. Maine traditions.

      Delete
  10. just awesome ties. for me the best those grizzly hackles get are on buggers still. Thanks for sharing.

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    Replies
    1. Passinthru Outdoors,
      Thanks.
      A bugger is a fish taker for sure.

      Delete
  11. Lovely work as always! A small confession here...I attempted to put together a couple of long streamers a short while back , they appear pretty straight-forward to the eye. Let's just say getting those feathers to marry together and have the sleek lines yours always do isn't quite as easy as it seems. I've got some "learnin" to do before I'll be creating anything worth looking at.

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    Replies
    1. HighPlainsFlyFisher,
      Thanks.
      That's great. Stay with it, and I'd love to see one of your streamers.

      Delete
  12. Brk
    The colors combos on these streamer are outstanding. If fact they look so good I would be afried to even get them wet to fish with. They might even look good under glass. Thanks for sharing

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    Replies
    1. Bill Trussell,
      Thanks.
      I appreciate your comments.

      Delete
  13. BT,
    I've been reading your blog daily for a couple of years, and I think you tie beautiful streamers. However, i wonder how effective a pattern it is to fish with in small streams in CT and MA compared to the other flies such as the bomber, or a subsurface nymph? I realize stripping these flies in still waters of ME or salmon rivers are one thing, but how good do they work in your local waters, and are they year round or seasonal?
    Thank you for your excellent work BT, i appreaciate i.
    Cliff

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    Replies
    1. Anonymous,
      Thanks.
      Cliff in a normal late winter early spring when the waters are high, even small streams the streamers are very effective. They are tied in smaller sizes.
      In larger rivers such as the Farmington and Salmon these larger streamers will produce nice fish. Large lakes and ponds in CT that hold trout these streamers can be cast from shore or a boat with good results. Of course fishing Upperdam pool in Maine with streamers is tops in my opinion.
      Thanks for your continued interest in my blog.

      Delete
  14. Hi Brk Trt!

    Lovely streamers! Genuine pieces of art. It would almost be a shame to use them.

    Have fun tying streamers,
    Mats Olsson

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    Replies
    1. The Jassid Man,
      Thanks.
      I'm glad you find them pleasing.
      I do enjoy tying them.

      Delete