Lochsa Special SBS

[SBPatt 0]

 

Waiting for my plane in the Bozeman airport a few years ago, I picked up a copy of Flyfishing and Tying Journal and came across an excellent article written by Al and Gretchen Beatty about the Lochsa River. In the article was a picture of this fly - sorta kinda H&L Variant/Wulff (also very similar to Charlie Craven's GTH Variant) which looked like a fun one to tie. Although I didn't get to the Lochsa the following summer, I did use this fly on a number of streams on the East side of those mountains and the fish seemed interested. Not a hard fly to tie, just a matter of watching proportions and maintaining thread control.

 

hook - Dai Riki 320 #12

thread - UTC 70 chartreuse

tail - moose body hair

abdomen - Uni Stretch chartreuse

thorax - peacock herl

wing - calf body hair

hackle - brown

 

Part 1

 

 

mash barb and attach thread at 75% mark

 

 

 

 

clean, stack and measure a clump of calf body hair (shank length)

 

 

 

 

tie in with 2 firm wraps

 

 

 

 

and continue back with firm wraps

 

 

 

 

trim butts at an angle (I was a bit steep here)

 

 

 

 

brush with a little Sally and move thread back to point above barb

 

 

 

 

clean, stack and measure a clump of moose body hair (shank length)

 

 

 

 

tie down and wrap forward (firmly) to wing butts

 

 

 

 

trim tail butts and smooth over with tying thread

 

 

 

 

tie in Uni Stretch

 

 

 

 

wrap forward to 50% mark; tie off

 

 

 

 

move thread in front of wing and create thread dam

 

 

 

 

crease with thumbnail to force fibers up and back

 

 

 

 

divide wing with 3 wraps from front to back

 

 

 

 

repeat with 3 wraps from back to front

 

 

 

 

post near wing; 5 wraps up post and 1 behind wings to lock in place

 

 

 

repeat for far wing; brush wing base with a little Sally

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

return thread to 40% mark

 

 

 

 

tie in a couple peacock herls and twist with tying thread to create chenille

 

 

 

 

wrap forward to 50% mark and tie off

 

 

 

 

prepare a hackle and tie in between wings

 

 

 

 

wrap hackle, 4 turns behind, 7 in front (thanks Mr. Whiting); half hitch x2, trim and SHHAN

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I've also tied it in orange (always been a good color for cutts for me) and with foam back for additional floatation, but I've tied this one as close to the Beatty's recipe as possible.

 

Regards,

Scott