Tying Instructions

This is a relatively complicated tie for a simple streamer but it can pay off.

1. Start thread halfway down the shank and add three saddle hackles on either side, cups out.

2. Add flashtail above, leave ends 1/2" longer than wing.

3. Tie on a clump of gray deer hair extending halfway to the end of the feathers or so.

4. Rotate fly and add underwing of white deer hair, splitting on hook shank.

5. Tie on an overwing of saddle hackles. For a different look, these can go under the gray overwing.

6. Wind .035 lead from halfway point to hook eye, or to the beginning of the bend on the EHC413.

7. Start a doubled over band of gray chenille just behind the lead wrap on the top of the shank.

8. Start and wrap 3 turns of red chenille.

9. Start and wrap white chenille to the eye/bend.

10. Pull gray loop over the top of the wraps and tie off. Whip finish and cut.

11. Get a dollop of Goop on a doll's eye and apply it low enough that it doesn't flip the hook a la a Clouser. Press firmly into the chenille and use your bodkin to roll away the excess. It will not be the slightest bit sticky yet.

12. Wait for fly to dry. By tomorrow, those eyes won't come off before the plastic breaks.

 

How to Fish

 

This is Dan Blanton's fly and I take no credit for it. He developed it for the West Coast striper fishery and offshore expeditions. The Sar-Mul-Mac means 'Sardine/Mullet/Mackerel' and it can be varied to imitate any of these and a whole lot more. The color pattern you have is approximately threadfin shad. Threadfins have a lot of yellow in them where I'm from so consider a yellow middle wing. Blanton also uses a lot of pink.

This pattern should be tied as blade-shaped as possible and given sharp tugs to send it skipping back and forth through the water. Nothing that would hit this is going to be convinced by a Wooly Bugger strip.

I have landed Largemouth bass, ladyfish, trout, and perch on this fly. It is a versatile performer and suffers only from a tendency to grow bulkier on the hook than intended and from the tying time. Surprisingly, durability is not an issue.

One more word. Some patterns have a length of heavy monofilament with the end burnt buried in the tailfeathers. Wrap .035 lead around the mono for rear weighting. Combined with an inverted hook style, this can greatly increase the fly's weedlessness and action. This fly works well with heavy sinking lines down deep. Use bigger eyes the deeper you go. Can be tied to 5/0 if you can afford the feathers.