Incessant Articulation

Hook: Daiichi Size 8 No. 2220 hook, and a size 1 salmon hook.
Thread: White Orvis G

Materials: 6" piece of 20lb backing, 2 beads, 5" rabbit fur strip, raccoon finn, arctic fox, estaz, 4 hackle feathers.

Tools: scissors, vise, bobbin, whip finish tool.

After talking to a friend, who is convinced swinging articulated streamers is the only way to fish for steelhead, I decided to hit the bench and grind out an articulated fly pattern. After a few trials and errors, I came up with this fly. It went like this: I like the way rabbit hair looks under water so lets throw some of that in. I like the way a raccoon fin collar looks, lets throw some of that in. Feathers look cool. Beads seem like a nice touch. So after a tying session this is the result. I haven't actually fished this pattern yet, but can't wait until I get the chance to swing this pattern in steelhead water. 

Step 1: starting with the size 8 hook, start a thread base and tie in a piece of estaz in the back of the hook shank.

Step 2: overtop of the estaz, tie in the rabbit fur strip. Tie it in so there is a tail off the back of the hook shank. 

Step 3: Wrap the estaz to the front of the fly.

Step 4: on the underside of the fly, tie in a pinch of arctic fox.

Step 5: Pull the rabbit strip overtop the fly and tie down behind the eye. Whip finish. (the back fly is now complete).

Step 6: Thread the backing through the eye of the size 8 hook. Once the backing is thread through the eye of the hook, thread the two ends of the backing through two beads. 

Step 7: tie down the ends of the backing onto the size 1 hook shank. Make sure to secure the backing to the hook shank. After secured apply head cement to the hook shank.

Step 8: After the head cement is dry, tie down the end of the rabbit fur strip to the shank of the size 1 hook. After the rabbit strip is secure, tie in two feathers on either side of the fly. 

Step 9: After the feathers are secured, Make a collar around the fly using raccoon finn. Make sure to leave space between the collar and the eye of the hook.

Step 10: After the collar is complete, create a tapered head on the fly. 

Step 11: once the head of the fly is complete, whip finish and apply head cement.