APRIL'S FLY OF THE MONTH

PICKET FINN

TYING INSTRUCTIONS:

After placing the hook in vise, wrap entire shank of hook with thread to form base for material. Next, tie in a micro barb saddle (grizzly or brown) at bend of hook. Next, tie in three or four strands of peacock herl and wrap back about two thirds of the way to eye of hook to form body. Tie off and them palmer the hackle over peacock herl back to where it is tied off behind the eye of hook. Next, tie in a small clump of gray squirrel hair over top of hook so that the ends extend back just beyond the bend of the hook. Tie off well with a couple of half hitches. Tie in four or five strands of peacock herl and wrap tightly to form a ball about an eighth of an inch at the head of the fly. (Note: since peacock herl has a tendency to break up easily, place fly head cement in as you wrap the peacock herl to prevent its unraveling.) Tie in tightly at eye of hook and apply fly head cement to entire ball of herl and thread.

This is an exceptionally productive pattern not only during the Spring and Fall months but throughout the entire season. It's a pattern that my Father and Ray Bergman along with many of the old timers used some fifty or sixty years ago and is still one of my favorites. It often takes trout when nothing else seems to work.

TIP: Fish it along the bottom with short erratic motion for best results.

If these patterns are not available in your local sport shop, they may be ordered by emailing me or call (518) 946-2605.