Fish Eye View (
)
View of the wet fly
OCC (Orange Coachman and Cree) - Steelhead fly
Hook - Mustad Single Salmon Hook/Model SL73UBLN-36890/Size 8
Thread - 8/0 UNI-Thread (Red)
Front Hackle - Indian Hen Hackle (Coachman Brown)
Thorax Hackle - Hen Saddle Hackle (Cree)
Under Body/Tag - Narrow Mylar Tinsel (Silver)
Body - Pearsall's Marabou Silk (Orange)
The body of this fly has been coated with a thin layer of Tack Free Clear Cure Goo (UV cured resin). This will help increase the durability of the fly, without the need for a metal rib.
Wayne - I finally got to play around with the hackle you sent. I couldn't resist adding them both to this fly. I think the coachman brown looks nice in front of the cree hackle.
NOTES ABOUT THE FLY DESIGN:
I wanted to design a fly that would flash a bit of color (tail section), but then be shrouded by a darker color when it was stripped thru the water, or at the end of the drift. I am hoping the fly will "pulse" with motion and occasional flashes of color. The hackle is intentionally full. I did not strip the cree hackle, but instead folded the fibers before wrapping, so that I could form the thorax without dubbing underneath. The thread is counter-wrapped forward thru the hackle, adding to the durability of the finished fly. I also wanted a fly that would push some water and have a tapered minnow-like profile when there is tension on the line. This may make a useful night fishing fly.
These hooks are quite small for their size. I included a sunflower seed (see first photo), to give you an idea of the size of this fly. It is actually quite small, and should be suitable for trout, as well as steelhead.
Well, that's the theory anyways. The fish will school me, if I am wrong.
I take a black light flashlight with me material shopping for steelhead flies.