The Big Casino

Last weekend, I tied what is my favorite articulated streamer that I have made to date.  I thought I would share it with you in case you wanted to borrow some ideas or technques as we near the end of "fly tying season".  So here's what I did,and I'm sorry that I don't have step by step pictures.  I didn't think I would like how it turned out as much as I did.

Back Hook

I'm not sure what type of hook or size I used in the back because it was in an assorted pile that I ran across.  If I were to guess, it would be a heavy gauge wire that was a size 2 and 3X long.  I then tied in an olive and black barred variant rabbit strip.  Next, I tied in some pearl chenille, schlappen, and UV polar and then blended them together before wrapping them forward.  I then tied off the bundle and added in a couple of sili legs.

Front Hook

I secured a strand of wire to a size 6 Tiemco 8089 hook and included a large brass conehead. I ran the wire through a single bead, through the eye of the hook, back through the bead and tied off the wire again.  I then tied in some olive marabou to the bottom of the hook and an olive and black barred variant rabbit strop to the top.  I left both the marabou and rabbit strip long enough to cover the bead and eye of the back hook.  I then blended the same combination of pearl chenille, schlappen, and UV polar chenille.  I then wrapped it forward, tied it off, and included a couple more sili legs.  I finished it off with a schlappen collar some head cement.  

In Closing

As far as articulated flies go, this one is actually pretty simple in terms of the materials that I used.  I didn't use any bucktail or synthetic material that you have to brush out or color.  I also didn't have to spin any deer hair, but I am really happy with the profile and will hopefully like its action once I get it in the water.  You could easily substitute different colors or materials depending on what you have lying around.  Finally, make this pattern your own!  Change a few things and heck, change the name if you want.  If this pattern looks somewhat familiar, that's because it is derived from my favorite streamer pattern I call The Brave.  Since I changed a few things and attached a second hook, I decided to change the name as well.  I named it "The Big Casino" since it has more bells as whistles than The Brave.  I've always liked that name since I heard it in a John Wayne western (Chisum, I think).  Finally, I plan on betting big on this fly come spring hopefully hit the jackpot when I bet on catching my first 6 pound bass on a fly come prespawn.