How to tie the chickabou streamer.....

A post that I did earlier on a chickabou streamer generated a lot of interest both nationally and internationally. Many of you asked how about showing us how to tie it, so here it is. By the way I just want to say that this fly is not something I created but it's a fly based on a Jack Gartside pattern called a soft hackle streamer. The thread I use is Uni 6/0 Camel, but you can use any brand you like. The Hook is a Firehole 718 #12.., feel free to use the hook of your choice.
 

 

Start the thread behind the eye and wrap rearward to about mid shank.
 

Select 3 chickabou feathers. If possible choose 3 different sizes. Is this step critical well maybe not but it makes a nicer profile in the finished fly.

Wrap the feathers forward. Each feather should take about 4 wraps. Keep the wraps close and tie off. Take the same steps with each feather tying them in front of the last one. These father can become flightly but by stroking them rearward and a little moisture they will conform.

You can see the fly taking shape. The process is not difficult and you should be able to tie this in no time.

The complete fly. Now comes the collar

Select a soft hackle feather. Again it's your choice. I like a darker one for it adds contrast.

Wrap your collar, 2 turns is adequate.

Whip finish and the fly is ready to fish. I hope this helps, but if you have questions I'll be happy to answer them.

"nondescript".....I think not.

One of many streams I have crossed in my lifetime. It may look like just an ordinary regular stream we come across when going about our daily routines. What is a bunch of moss covered boulders, dark tannin stained water and a sound that is not heard anywhere but along it's banks. There is a mystery here and it's different form any other of the hundreds of streams like it. I have encountered  these streams all over the eastern United States from Maine to Virginia from mountain to sea and they all are special. Unique...so my next crossing will be like my first crossing.

I can remember all of my stream crossings though it might take a few moments to recall them. Like a book the mind will highlight those streams when the pages are turned.

 

 

So special to recall such a wonderful creature. A wild jewel, something that has no equal. It need not be "big" to be valuable to both angler and non-angler.
 

Feathers and thread. It's a simple way of describing these flies. The sight highlights the thoughts I have of a warm and green time along that stream...
 

All that is needed here is a moment to look back and reflect what may or may not have happened that day.
 

A cucumber, now that is "nondescript"...well not so. When it's put into a brine with garlic and spices it turns into a Kosher delight.
 

 

Fishing "chickabou" and fine winter fare...

Remember the fly I wrote about a couple of posts ago, well I have fished it a few times now in a couple of streams. I was surprised how well it was recieved by the local char, not really surprised because I had a strong feeling it had the attributes of a fish taker. But the surprise came by where many strikes came from. The fly actually is a small streamer but it was being taken near the surface like a caddis emerger. Some of the brookies swiped at it as it was swinging and several slammed it as it sat near the bottom.  

I wish I had underwater video of the flies action for it was remarkable. As the fly lay motionless in the current the darker portion of the fly expanded which chickabou will do. Well that expansion drew some violent strikes and that led me to believe the brookies were taking it for a sculpin. Many small streams have generous populations of sculpin and they are a sought after food source for trout.

 

 

A brookie that took the chickabou fly.
 

In this riffled section of stream is where the chickabou fly was taken as a caddis.
 

 

When wet you can see a sculpin like resemblance.  From a large head to a thin tail. And when the water flows through it life is put into action. I have tied a variant of it using a short shank hook. More on that later.
 

Baked gnocchi.....cut peppers, onions, tomatoes approximately 1" pieces. Add minced garlic, olive oil and frozen gnocchi. Salt and pepper to taste. Bake in a 450 oven for 18-20 min.
 

 

Webster -Wiki and others....How did I miss these.

"Classic"...serving as a standard of excellence....Often the use of this word is dramatically overplayed. I for one use it but in very limited instances. Many times this word is not used when actually it should. Classic is used in most every which way describing food to automobiles and I can attest to as well as you can that this is farther from the definition. The book you see in the first picture was gifted to me by a reader of this blog. It has been in print for over 60 years. While the author is a name I'm familiar with I have never read the book. Mr. Atherton  in his writings within the book share many of my beliefs as well as many that I intend to use going forward. His thoughts on impression in both fly construction and how the fish react to that impression have been a part of me since I started this journey. He also used numbers to identify his beautiful fly creations. So simple and yet I struggle with naming the flies I create. One of his creations was numbered 5...a dry fly. So at the bench using some materials given me along with the book I attempted to tie the #5 "Classic"...

 

 

Atherton's #5...again some of the materials are equal to the originals and some have been improvised. My attempt at tying a Catskill style fly is far from a master Catskill tyer. I honestly believe that John Atherton would agree that it's impression is close enough.
 

Another book that I was gifted. It to should be hailed as a "Classic"...I have never read the book but it has been out there for decades. Mr. Smith also hold many of my feelings about flies, fishing and where it all takes place.
 

The "Classic" Partridge and Orange Spider. 
 

My first numbered fly in the tradition of John Atherton...# 1 Spider.