Another one from Dan Blanton, tied here in fire tiger colors. I believe the fly got it’s name from the sound it made flying through the air; with a weighted shank (optional), it’d be nice to hear that thing coming so you’d have time to duck.
Thorax is a bit longer than Dan would tie it, and he’d usually use a bit more hackle in the front to push more water, but a very nice tie, as always. As an aside, it is very much in vogue these days to use a 60 degree jig hook like the Eagle Claw 413 for Whistler’s.
Nice instructions as always. For this pattern to function as designed it must have about 10 wraps of .030 lead behind the eyes so that it will have a jigging motion on the retrieve. Dan now often ties this pattern with I-Balz or other solid metal eyes in which case the lead wraps are not needed.
That’s a great looking chartreuse/white whistler. By the way, the whistler is great for many freshwater fish. In fresh water I have caught stripers, walleye, pike, lake trout, largemouth bass, black crappie, king salmon and barramundi. They also work for Wipers, white bass, smallmouth bass, large trout and other species.
Just saw this. Like this fly, but have a question. Wouldn’t the large bead chain flip this fly over so the point is up? If so, wouldn’t the colors be reversed?
Tied it to a length of 15lb mono and subjected it to the VUKST (very unscientific kitchen sink test) - it dove for the bottom but remained right-side up; bath night isn’t until Friday so deep-water results will have to wait (I’ll even kick my feet to simulate current/tidal flow ) The bead chain eyes really don’t weigh that much and they’re fighting against a decent chunk of (cadmium plated) iron.
) The bead chain eyes really don’t weigh that much and they’re fighting against a decent chunk of (cadmium plated) iron.