The Soft Hackle Streamer

In the course of our lifetime we have the chance to meet some very wonderful and talented fly tyers. Some of these tyers are very close to us and we may even fish with them from time to time. And then there are those tyers who are considered innovators, the ones who create some of the best fly patterns. This is one of those fly tyers.

I had the opportunity to meet Jack Gartside in the late 90's at a fly fishing show outside of Boston. At that time I was new to tying flies and barely could produce something that even remotely considered a fly. But at show and for a brief time I witnessed Jacks ability at the vise I was able to walk away a better tyer. Jack was the person responsible for my decision to purchase my tying vise, which is the Regal Medallion.

Below is a pattern he crated. It uses few materials, and can be easily tied. You can vary the colors used to create many baitfish patterns.

The materials needed to tie the Gartside's "Soft Hackle Streamer". Marabou, Crystal Flash, and a Mallard Flank Feather, some thread and a hook.

Here are a few "soft hackle streamers" I tied using various colors of marabou.

A close up of a gray marabou soft hackle streamer. It can represent many small minnows that swim our rivers and lakes.

This attractor pattern of yellow and red marabou takes on the look of the "Mickey Finn"

Many of these soft hackle patterns can be tied in sizes to fish for trout, salmon, steelhead, bass, and various saltwater game fish.