Start with a 3x or 4x streamer hook, Dai-riki 710, size 6 is used here. Add eyes, bead chain or lead. Black 6/0 or 140 denier thread. A dab of zap-a-gap on the thread before tying in the eyes, and a small soak of zap-a-gap after.

About a dozen wraps of 0.020 lead wire (or depleted uranium if you have it), followed by tying in the black marabou tail.  Notice how the tail butts against the lead wraps, which makes for a smooth, level underbody.

Tie in a small wire, red used here to complement the eyes. Tie in some black chenille, and a black saddle hackle. Then, a light coat of zap-a-gap to lock in all the tie-ins.

Wind the chenille forward, and tie off just behind the eyes. Do not cut the chenille yet.

Palmer the saddle hackle back towards the tail.  When you reach the tail, use hackle pliers to hold the saddle hackle in place before counter-wrapping the wire through the saddles. Counter-wrapping means going the opposite direction than you did for the saddle. If you wrapped the hackle clockwise, then counter-wrap counter-clockwise. This reinforces the saddle hackle, allowing the fisherman to catch a few more fish before the fly falls apart.

Finish the fly by covering the lead head with chenille, and tie off. Make sure you don’t cover the hook eye with chenille; try to tie off the chenille on top or side of the hook shank.

Tie a few and donate to the Baghdad Anglers Club.

A dozen steelhead flies, donated by the participants in the fly swap.   All proceeds will go to Project Healing Waters.

In response to the past swap donations, Ed Nicholson, President of PHWFF, wrote:

“I’m not sure how you do it, or who I should thank, but all of at PHWFF appreciate the PayPal contributions sent to us by FFOTW. Our Project has grown exponentially over the past year and your contributions will help is fund even more activity with our disabled participants, military and veterans alike.

Again, thanks. “

Alaska Fly Fishing Vacations have donated a week at the lodge on the Alagnak River to the Baghdad Anglers Club. The club decided to auction the week, and use the proceeds to benefit all of their by buying equipment for Iraq and Project Healing Waters.

Applause!

The week at the lodge is a little much for me, but they can use fly reels, fly lines, and of course, flies in Iraq.  I plan to tie up a bunch and mail them.  Time to get tying.

Head over to eBay and bid early, bid often, and bid high. Bid like you are bidding for Obama’s Senate seat in Illinois.

Fly tying – one handed whip finish technique from Carl Smolka on Vimeo.

A tip of the hat to you, Carl.

“Tony Spinello, an Army soldier from Fort Carson, waded knee-deep as he continuously cast the line.

“‘I just got back from Kuwait,’ he said. ‘I haven’t been able to really relax yet.’

“However, standing in the flowing river, he said he was finally calm.”

So writes Sarah Bultema of the Loveland (CO) Reporter-Herald. Her excellent story tells us about several of our heroes helped by Project Healing Waters.

Way to go guys!