Bluenose Squirrel Tail


Fly and photos by Jeff Hamm, New Zealand
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I originally tied this as a wingless fly, and just called it the "Bluenose" after the famous fishing schooner from Nova Scotia (where I originally hail from) which can be found on the back of the Canadian dime. I later added the wing, and liked the look so I know have both versions in my fly box. On my last fishing trip to Rotorua I hooked up on a good sized fish on the Bluenose Squirrel Tail while fishing the mouth of the Waiteti. Fishing had been slow that week as the weather hadn't warmed up so they were still out in the lake. Very few fish were being touched at the mouth. I wish I could say that I had "found the solution," but alas, that touch was the last one I had from the lake on that trip!

However, next time, in the summer, when the fish have come in and are heading up river I will be trying this one again. Tight lines everyone! ~ Jeff

Materials:

    Hook: Size 10 2x shank wet fly hook

    Thread: Black

    Tail: Red feather fibres

    Body: Olive floss

    Rib: Copper wire (thickish)

    Wing: Grey Squirrel tail

    Hackle: One olive over one blue hen hackle.

Method:

    Step 1: Tie on thread. I leave a fair distance from the eye for streamers, especially hair-wings. I find this works as a landmark and helps prevent crowding of the eye.

    Step 2: Tie in the copper wire. I try to keep the wire along the bottom of the shank, especially at the tail end. This way the first wrap starts from the bottom of the fly and it looks neater (to the fisherman, the fish probably don't care).

    Step 3: Tie in the tail. I like the tail fairly wispy on this fly. The length is not quite the length of the shaft of the hook. I leave the fibres along the shaft to add a bit of bulk since I want to build a tapered body in the end.

    Step 4: Tie in the floss at the rear, then bring the tying thread forward.

    Step 5: Build a tapered body with the floss. When you tie off the floss, bring it slightly forward of the taper and tie off (easier and neater). If you are tying a wingless version, then bring the body farther along the shank so the taper is about where the black thread is now.

    Step 6: Wrap the rib. Again, bring the rib forward of the taper, then tie off and break the wire. To prevent dulling your scissors, just press the wire to the shaft with a thumbnail and wiggle the wire until it breaks. It will break where you're pressing on it.

    Step 7: Tie in the squirrel tail. The white tips should extend to about the length of the tail. Personally, I don't stack the hairs on squirrel tail wings. I like the uneven look, and I think it gives them more action this way. Regardless, when I tie on I put one wrap around the hair only (not including the shaft of the hook) to bind the hairs into a bundle, then I tie on the bundle by wrapping on the original tie. The wing should be tied in to follow the slope of the taper, but still sit low along the body. The most common error on squirrel tail wings is to use too much hair. Like most things fly related, less is more here.

    Step 8: Select your hackles, one blue and one olive.

    Step 9: Tie in the blue hackle and form a collar.

    Step 10: Tie the olive feather in front of the blue hackle.

    Step 11: Form the olive collar in front of the blue collar, form a head, whip finish, and cement.

    Here's a version of the wingless version, or just the Bluenose .

    ~ Jeff Hamm, Australia

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