Soft Hackle Streamers

[jaydawg]

These two flies are the result of my mind wandering while I was tying some Raccoons for the upcoming fall season. Basically my stab at adapting the Grey and Black Ghost to the soft hackle format. They are both on #6 4x streamer hooks. Bodies are floss and tails/hackle are natural mallard flank. I'm really digging the looks of these. I think next I'll try some smaller sizes. Maybe some #10's.

[Roadkill]

Nice flies , they remind me of one of my old favorites the Mallard Spider.

[jaydawg]

Is the mallard spider just as sounds? Spider tied with mallard flank? Those two Ghost I posted really are just spider that have been scaled WAY up.

[letumgo]

Nice! I'd swing those with confidence.

I am reminded of another soft hackle pattern called a "Woody Bugger" (designed by Nick Pionnessa - Nick uses wood duck flank for the hackle). I have fished this fly for several years and find it to be very effective on steelhead.


http://www.flytyingforum.com/pattern566.html

[Mickalo]

Like these soft hackle streamers, also reminds me a bit of the Carey Special which I've had good success with.

Mike

[William Anderson]

Jaydawg, this is interesting. I have a lot to learn about steelhead. Anything you've found to be productive would be very welcome. I like the Woody Bugger too. I need to change gears and you guys need some rain. I hope it's a good season.

[Mataura mayfly]

Excellent idea. Nice way of putting to use some of those bigger feathers that often get passed over.
The way you got that Mallard to wrap and barbs to separate, I wonder if it could make a passable Spey style body hackle with one of the longer flank feathers.

[gingerdun]

Jaydawg, good to see you again.
These streamers are refreshing. There are enough people here on the forum who have tied and fished soft hackles for steelhead, you are in good company. And I may try that Woody Bugger for the local bass.
Thanks for letting us in on what you've been up to.

[Roadkill]

A mallard spider has a red hackle fiber tail, yellow floss body with a flat gold tinsel rib, and flowing mallard hackle.
A larger one can include a marabou under wing. Kind of like tying a Gartside softhackle streamer.

[jaydawg]

Thanks guys! I wasn't thinking spey when I tied these, but that's really what they came out as. These will be targeting large brookies and salmon on the Rapid Rive in Maine in a couple of weeks. This spring I fished a nature mallard hackle and black dubbed body raccoon that took MANY large salmon on the Rapid and I'm hoping to repeat that in a couple weeks!

For the hackle on these ghost I stripped one side of the flank feather and wrapped it like I would a flymph/spider. I make the tail using the barbs from the side I stripped. I take those loose barbs and roll them between my fingers before tying them down. That's what gives that nice looking tail.