Bastian's Red Squirrel Silver Picket Pin SBS

Neat variation of an old standard.

hook - TMC 5263 #6
thread - Danville 6/0 brown
rib - medium oval tinsel silver
tail - pheasant rump brown
body - mylar tinsel silver
hackle - brown hen
wing - fox squirrel tail
head - peacock herl

Part 1

mash barb, start thread, tie in rib, wrap back to bend

strip some fibers off a pheasant rump feather (hen or schlappen works, too), measure (gap past bend), tie in, return thread to front

tie in tinsel, wrap to tail and back

spiral rib forward and tie off

prep hackle, tie in by tip (we’ll trim off the stub after the hackle is wound)

Part 2

sweep fibers back while wrapping forward; tie off and trim

stroke hackle down & back, wrap back to tie in point

clean, stack, measure (tips even with tail) a clump of squirrel tail; tie in, trim butts (a drop of Sally helps lock it in) and cover with thread

tie in peacock

twist with thread, wrap forward, tie off, trim, whip, SHHAN

Regards,
Scott

Great, clean tie as always, Scott!

Beautiful tie Scott! Very nice tinsel body. I like how you tied the oval tinsel on the bottom of the hook. This gives you a nice and clean starting wrap for the rib.

Alberto

Never saw this variation, Scott, but it’s going to catch some fishies for me next season!

Chuck

Scott, I really like this fly!