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March 2003
by Rich Johnson
Fly of the Month: Dark Spruce (Steelhead)
Notes: The Spruce is an old (1918-1919) pattern that was originally designed for sea-run cutthroats and was called the Godfrey Special. The modern incarnation as a streamer and/or steelhead pattern is most often available in two versions, Light and Dark. The light version uses silver badger hackle, while the dark uses golden badger or furnace hackle. I've always preferred the dark version.
My interpretation of this pattern for Fly of the Month is designed with steelhead in mind. As such the hook, thread, tag, and rib are altered from the standard fly. For the original recipe and some interesting background see Streamers & Bucktails by Joseph D Bates, Jr (pgs 370-372)
Note from the Webmaster: This fly looked so beautiful after I scanned it I decided to make a wallpaper scan for my PC. Feel free to download this image.
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Hook: UTE Salmon/Steelhead
Thread: Danville 6/0, Black
Weight: optional (under peacock)
Tag: Flat Tinsel, small silver
Tail: Peacock sword fibers.
Rib: Gold wire
Body: rear - Red Floss; front - Peacock herl
Wing: Badger hackles
Hackle: Badger hackle, collared
Head: Red thread
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1) I've leaded the front half of the shank with .020 lead and secured it with thread. Because I'm using floss for the rear of the body I've built a slope up onto the lead with my tying thread. (This is much clearer in the next photograph.) |
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2) Tie in the flat tinsel at a spot between to point of the barb and the hook point. Wraps three or four turns back and then reverse and wrap the tinsel forward over itself. Un-wrap all but one of the wraps you used to tie in the tag before you tie off the tinsel. This will help minimize the bulk under the tail. |
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3) Tie in four or five peacock sword fibers for the tail. They're tricky, but try to get all the fibers to curve upwards. |
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4) Tie the gold wire and bring the thread forward to the midpoint. Tie in the floss just up onto the lead with a few wraps. (I prefer to separate standard four-strand floss into two strands. I find that it will tie smoother and is easier to control.) |
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5) Wrap the floss smoothly to the tail, reverse directions and bring the floss back up to the tie in spot. I will at this time unwrap all but one of the thread wraps used to tie the floss in before I tie down the floss with tight wraps. Again, this is to minimize thread bulk.
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6) Tie in four to six peacock herls just in front of the floss, twist the herls slightly, and wrap them forward. Tie off and trim. Counter-wrap the wire rib. Tie off and trim excess.
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7) Select and prep two, or four, badger hackles by aligning their tips and cleaning the stems at the tie in spot. (I will usually strip a few additional fibers off the bottom of the stem to allow for the bulk of the body at the tie in spot. This keeps hackle fibers from spraying about. I doubt if the fish care.) Trim the stems short and tie down directly on top of the shank. Half-hitch and whip finish the back thread. |
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8) Attach your red thread. Prepare and tie in a badger hackle that matches your wing.
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9) Wrap and collar the hackle. Build a tapered head, half-hitch and whip finish.
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10) The original Godfrey Special has been altered throughout the years, here's my version for Steelhead.
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