Match The Hatch? Not Necessary....

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.

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.