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December 2000by Rich
Johnson
Dean River Lantern
Notes: The
Dean River Lantern is a fairly new pattern that was originated for
steelhead. In Alaska it enjoys some popularity as a pattern for sockeyes
and Silver salmon. Although I have lost
track of where I originally heard of and saw this pattern, it was
one that caught my eye, and a few fish to boot. A pink Lantern enjoyed a
year or two as my most effective sockeye pattern on the Russian River. I still carry a couple of size 6 in pink and green in my box,
for those times when I want something a little different to offer
to a salmon that has seen it all. Vance at McAfee’s says #8
orange or green works best for him. The demonstration pattern is tied on a
size 4 iron.
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Hook: UTE Salmon #4-6-8
Weight: optional, but not suggested
Thread: 6/0 Black
Tail: Black bear or Black squirrel tail
Underbody: Flat tinsel, silver
Overbody: Edge-Glo strip
Hackle: Collared saddle, black
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1)
Start your thread by closing the loop and putting a layer of thread
to the rear and back forward.
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2) Cut a
section of black bear or black squirrel tail that would normally be the bulk
of a wing. (The hair that you use should be soft, bucktail or dyed gray
squirrel is too stiff in my opinion. Although I’ve never tied with it, I
hear that skunk is also a soft black hair.) Measure the tail to be a shank
length, and tie the hair down along the top of
the shank, leaving a good two (2) eye widths in front of the fibers.
You’ll want a short taper on the cut ends.
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3) At this point I like to post my tail. I place three or four tight wraps jammed under the tail, and then wrap three posting wraps around the tail before bringing the thread forward. This cocks the tail up at an angle, similar to a Comet or Boss, but without the use of a body material.
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4) Using a metal straight edge and a razor blade cut a strip of Edge-Glo material from the sheet. Cut carefully as this material is fairly soft and will buckle and mis-cut easily. (Green Edge-Glo is a material that we used in the Leonard Shrimp - FOM/July 1999)
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5) Cutting
several strips at one time saves energy and time at the tying table. You
will also want different widths for each hook sizes. May I suggest you try
1/8” for a #4, 3/32” for a #6, and 1/16” for a #8. This photograph
also shows, to some extent, the bright edge that this material creates.
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6) Tie on the Edge-Glo at the front and bind down on the underside of the shank. Tie in your flat mylar tinsel at the rear (silver side down) and bring your thread forward.
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7)
Wrap the tinsel evenly forward. You do not need to overlap the wraps,
just butt each wrap tight against the previous. Tie off in front of the tail
butts and trim the excess.
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8) Wrap
the Edge-Glo forward with a slight overwrap on each turn. Your first wrap
should neatly fold itself over the lifted tail, covering the thread wraps
without crushing the tail down. Tie off the Edge-Glo strip with several
tight turns. Carefully trim the excess as close to the wraps as possible.
You may need to twist the tail back towards you to re-center it on the
shank.
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9) Cover the Edge-Glo butts with several wraps creating a smooth area for the hackle to sit on. Tie in the base half of a saddle hackle by it’s tip end.
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10)
Wrap a fairly dense hackle, and collar it back while building a neat
head. Half hitch and whip finish.
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11) The finished Lantern, simple and effective. And most importantly, a little different.
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12) A size 6 Green Lantern (my favorite size) My brand of Edge-Glo is from Doug’s Bugs and comes in Fluorescent colors; Pink, Red, Green, Yellow, & Orange. I’ve even seen it in Clear, but what’s the point if there is no color?
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