10-31-2008, 05:55 AM
Make yourself some of these puppies, and fish them in, and below the riffles. They work good this time of year.
It's an extremely simple tie. Size 8 Dai-Riki 280 2X long hopper hook ( although any streamer hook will do ), Wapsi sculpin olive pine squirrel zonker strip ( takes about 4-5" ) and 6/0 olive dun thread. I like to do a three layer thread base to cover the hook and ensure a good "bite" when tying in the zonker.
Hang about 3/4" of the hide off the bend of the hook. Tie it in very securely. Wrap the thread forward to midshank. Pull the zonker forward along the top of the hook to midshank. Tie the zonker down VERY SECURELY. Wrap the thread forward to behind the eye. Wrap the zonker forward as a collar, taking care to stroke the hair back with each wrap. Usually takes about eight or so wraps to get to the eye. Tie the zonker down very securely, and build a good size head. Apply head cement liberally.
I called it the Pine Squirrel Cheater because it is simple, easy to tie, durable and effective. Almost seems like cheating. Fished on a full sinking line on an across or down and across presentation, with a short steady stripping action as a baitfish / sculpin, it has worked on all kinds of water around here for all the trout species we have. And whitefish will take it under the right circumstances. (A John Scott fly)
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It's an extremely simple tie. Size 8 Dai-Riki 280 2X long hopper hook ( although any streamer hook will do ), Wapsi sculpin olive pine squirrel zonker strip ( takes about 4-5" ) and 6/0 olive dun thread. I like to do a three layer thread base to cover the hook and ensure a good "bite" when tying in the zonker.
Hang about 3/4" of the hide off the bend of the hook. Tie it in very securely. Wrap the thread forward to midshank. Pull the zonker forward along the top of the hook to midshank. Tie the zonker down VERY SECURELY. Wrap the thread forward to behind the eye. Wrap the zonker forward as a collar, taking care to stroke the hair back with each wrap. Usually takes about eight or so wraps to get to the eye. Tie the zonker down very securely, and build a good size head. Apply head cement liberally.
I called it the Pine Squirrel Cheater because it is simple, easy to tie, durable and effective. Almost seems like cheating. Fished on a full sinking line on an across or down and across presentation, with a short steady stripping action as a baitfish / sculpin, it has worked on all kinds of water around here for all the trout species we have. And whitefish will take it under the right circumstances. (A John Scott fly)
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