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| Hook, marabou feather, and a red collar. |
The soft hackle streamer. This fly was created by Jack Gartside of Boston MA. As to the date of it's creation I'm not certain of but I came to know of it when I saw Jack tie it at a fly fishing show. Jack was a "great" fly tyer and to have him tie the fly in front of me has left a lasting impact on me. I use the soft hackle streamer in my fishing and I carry it tied as Jack instructed using the same materials. I also have been tinkering with some colors to arouse the curiosity of the brook trout. I have found that most colors seem to awaken bottom sitting brookies and I've tied a few of my favorites here. I have also put a tutorial of the fly and it's as Jack tied it....simple stuff.
This one has a olive marabou wing, with a collar of yellow and orange hackle.
This one has a white marabou wing, with a black and orange hackle collar.
This one features a white marabou wing, purple hackle collar and a peacock head.
Marabou, use the thinnest stems possible. This will enable you to wrap the marabou without it breaking and to maintain a slim profile.
Collar hackle can be the soft feathers from a saddle, strung schlappen on hen feathers if you have them large enough.
Wrap thread to about midway down hook shank. Tie in first marabou feather and wrap forward until all of feather is used. Stroke fibers backward while wrapping.
Tie in second marabou feather and wrap forward and tie off.
At this point you could whip finish and the fly would fish very well.
At this point tie in the black feather and wrap it 3-4 times as as the collar.
Tie in the orange feather and wrap as you did with the black one. Stroke back the fibers and tie off.
The complete soft hackle streamer.
This is the soft hackle streamer as tied by Jack Gartside. A gray marabou wing, and a collar of mallard flank.
Love those streamers, Alan. You might want to consider fishing those in the Swift River sometime. I think you would get some good action, maybe even from salmon that have washed over the dam this fall.
ReplyDeleteRegards, Sam
Parachute Adams
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Sam I'll bet the house those salmon would rip those flies. I have had such success with them locally...one color in particular, can you guess? By the way they work well on the Cape as well as Rangeley Maine.
Used to fish flies like this but in brighter colors like cerise and purple for steelhead back in Wisconsin. The way they pulse in the water the fish couldn't resist. Mine were #4 - #2 size.
ReplyDeletebill piatek
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Bill I could see these patterns as steelhead flies. The hooks I use are not quite that big, most are #8.
I'm going to do a couple of book features that you may be interested in. Stay tuned.
Excellent SBS, Alan. Gartside played a major role in the development of fly tying in the USA with his creative use of various materials. He is better known in the saltwater community, but "miniaturizing" his marabou patterns is a great way to crossover to trout fishing, and you are doing a bang up job of that.
ReplyDeleteWilliam Shuck
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Bill I love the fact that Jack was a free spirit, and that free spirit carried into his fly tying. Like you said he was a very big contributor in salt water creations. That marabou stuff is alive.
Alan
ReplyDeleteAnytime color is added to a fly pattern, it attracts attention. All these patterns are a perfect example of that---excellent work at the vice. Thanks for sharing
Bill Trussell
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Bill multi colored patterns are better fish takers and that is a fact. Add marabou and you have a sure fire winner.
Brk Trt, I just started tying some of the Gartside Gray marabou soft hackle streamers a week ago or so. A slight variation of his traditional by me using teal flank instead of standard duck flank. Is size 8 it worked quite well. I'm tying a bunch, 1st because they are fairly easy, 2nd for a semi planned trip for head waters of Ct river next late spring/summer. A killer streamer for that region so they tell me.
ReplyDeleteYours look a whole lot better then mine ever did.....Phil
DRYFLYGUY
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Phil any waterfowl feather is OK, I use pheasant and guinea fowl. I know where your headed...spent a day or two in Pittsburg NH chasing fall salmon. You'll love it there.
Although I mainly course fished or sea fished when I fancied fish on the plate, I can see there is something alluring with making your own little temptresses. You are certainly wetting my appetite to cast once more Alan and I'm curious as to whether or not home tied lures would tempt the predatory course fish in our waters, i.e. Pike and Perch.
ReplyDeleteJohn Wooldridge
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John a great deal of pleasure is had catching a fish on a fly you created. Any one of the flies here will tempt pike or perch.
Jack would be pleased. Nicely done, Alan. I've been messing around with mallard and marabou lately; yours look much better than mine.
ReplyDeletemike
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Your kind Mike. I appreciate it.