SW Baitfish

Not to long ago I received a package in the mail from Steve Wascher. He sent this new material called frantic tails. They are pretty sick and I do strongly recommend them to anyone tying baitfish patters. So because of Steve's sending me this material this pattern gets the name of SW Baitfish (Steve Wascher Baitfish).

Hook: Size 1 daiichi hook
Thread: 6/0 White Thread
Materials: Frantic Tail, arctic fox tail, cross cut rabbit strip, senyo's ice dubbing, cross-eyed cone head, non-lead wire.
Tools: Scissors, whip finish tool, bobbin, vise

Step 1: Slide the cone head onto the fly. Wrap a layer of wire around the hook shank and slide the wrappings toward the eye of the hook until the cone head cannot move. Wrap a base layer of thread and secure wire.

(Frantic Tail)

Step 2: At the back of the fly fold the top of the tail overtop the hook shank and secure.

Step 3: Fold the bottom of the tail up and secure

Step 4: Cut the arctic fox fur and tie the ends in just behind the midpoint of the fly (the ends of the fur should only cover a small portion of the tail).

Step 5: Repeat step 4 moving farther up the hook shank (moving towards the eye of the hook) until the thread is about 1/8 to 1/4 inch behind the cone head.

Step 6: Tie in a strip of cross cut rabbit fur and rap it around the hook shank, forming a collar, until it reaches the back of the cone head. Tie off and cut the excess rabbit strip. 

Step 7: Take a big pinch of Senyos ice dubbing and slide it over the front of the fly. Make two wraps with the  thread behind the cone head, securing the dubbing (the dubbing will form a collar).

Step 8: Once secured, pull the second half of the ice dubbing over the cone head to form the collar.  Secure the collar

Step 9: Whip finish and apply head cement.

Step 10: Glue the sticker eyes to the holes on the side of the cone head. Once the eyes are in place apply head cement or other clear glue overtop of the eyes to make sure they wont come loose.

Finished Pattern