Squirrel Zonkers

[pillcaster]

a couple years back, I got tired of paying high dollar for poor quality saddle hackle for making wooly boogers. I ran across a pattern on this web site called, a pine squirrel cheater. it uses zonked pine squirrel as its main ingredient. I toned it down a little bit by only using two wraps of zonked squirrel, and loop dubbing the remainder of the body.

I call it an unwooly booger, because it uses no hackle. its really just a pine squirrel cheater that has gone on a diet.

ive been using it for about 3 years now, don't even tye any wooly boogers any more, don't need them. no more high dollar hackle, and no more leader twist.

AMEN FYI http://flyanglersonline.com/fotw/2009/fotw20090921.php

also, j stockard, a sponsor here, has excellent whole zonked skins http://www.jsflyfishing.com/wapsi-pi...el-skin-zonked

[JohnScott]

Jeff -

Thanks for posting the link to the PSC.

I haven't done a lot of streamer fishing this year, but I did today, in Northern Idaho. Temps in the low to mid thirties, snow flurries on and off, and a bit of ice in the guides late in the afternoon.

Three different spots in three hours - produced about 30 west slope cutts in hand, ranging from about 10" up to 17" on a sculpin olive PSC.

John

P.S. Spent the last couple hours fishing three other spots with FEB ( foam body version ) October Caddis and Salmonflies. Hooked up another ten cutts, finishing the day with the biggest fish of the day, at just over 18".

[JohnScott]

Forgot to mention

The zonker strips shown might seem to be too short for a PSC. But you can do the PSC in sections - tie in a short piece for the tail and mid-body, then, after the rear of the fly is done, tie in a piece to wrap the forward body.

Also, for deeper and faster water, it can help to add some weight. I don't like beadheads and coneheads, so I use 10-12 wraps of .025 non-lead wire. If you aren't using a full sinking line or a sink tip, you probably do need to add some weight.

John

[Fatman]

That's because I cut alot of them cross-cut for tying jigs, I just got 5 tanned skins 4 greys and 1 pine from a guy on ebay and told him I can always use them