FLYMPH FORUM

The Bou Body
Hook - Daiichi Model 2220/Size 6
Thread - 8/0 UNI Thread (Camel)
Body/Hackle - Single Marabou Hackle (Brown)
Tag/Rib/Under body weight - Medium Copper Wire

(*) Color choice is purely optional. This just seemed fishy to me.

PHOTOS OF TYING SEQUENCE
Prepare a long marabou feather by stripping off some of the fibers along one side. Stroke the tip fibers together to even the tips. The top portion forms the rear body, and the lower section forms the marabou hackle collar at the front of the fly.



Mount the hook in the vice. Lay down a base of thread along the full length of the shank, then tye in the wire rib.

Next make two loose wraps of thread over the middle of the marabou hackle tip fibers. Gently pull the marabou feather, drawing the feather to the tip fibers. Once you get the the tip, make a couple firm wraps of thread to lock the marabou feather in place.



Twist the marabou feather to form a slender chennille of the feather. Wrap the marabou feather forward, adding additional twists as necessary. The fibers of the marabou naturally form a conical tapered body.

Take a close look at the body of the fly. It is worth noting that this section could easily form the body and thorax of smaller flies. Twisted marabou fibers forms beautiful tapered fuzzy bodies. Definitely worth playing around with this technique in the future.



Make a couple firm thread wraps to lock in the marabou feather. The wrap the copper wire backwards in three closely touching turns (forming the rear tag), then forward in spiral open wraps (forming the ribs).

Make additional wire wraps in the front third of the hook shank. This will add some weight to the fly, helping with the fishing action of the fly.



Wrap the remaining marabou feather forward, forming the collar hackle over the throrax region of the fly.

You end up with a bushy looking mess like this. (that is a good thing...just what you want...an ugly fishing fly...)



FINISHED FLY:

Now that looks like it would be a great flesh fly for your fall run steelhead.

Agreed. And in the near future I think the smallmouth bass will love this fly. Worth a try anyway.

I tie a nearly identical fly in olive with red thread for damselfly nymphs in Stillwater.... the difference being I use but one turn of ‘hackle’ at the front and rib the body with silver wire.

John - Can you post a photo? I’d love to see that pattern.

Ray, Howdy;

Down-size that to t 14 or 16 and it would make an excellent panfish fly as well.
Doug from "the Den" should appreciate that.

hank

Add a wing and it would make a nice spey fly for swinging

Excellent idea! I'm positive that my local steelhead will approve.

Thanks Mike

Yep,
This pattern has Smallmouth written all over it! And, Steelhead too! I would like to experience the Steelhead part someday! Great pattern Ray! I love how you have parred the marabou feather to get it form a beautiful and realistic looking taper! Then, the last (bottom) fibers form that delicious looking hackle! I can feel the thump of the take! Where's my marabou box?
Dougsden!