#129 - Blue Back (Var)

Tied by: Steve Labrecque
Originated by: Steve Labrecque

Hook: Gaelic Supreme Mike Martinek Rangeley Streamer hook 8xl #1
Thread: Black
Tag: Flat silver tinsel with fin silver wire
Body: Flat silver tinsel with medium silver wire
Belly: White bucktail
Throat: Pink hackle fibers
Wing: 2 hot pink hackles flanked by silver Dr. blue hackle flanked by furnace hackle
Shoulder: Teal flank
Eyes: Jungle cock nail
Topping: Peacock herl
Head: Black

Notes: When you see this streamer wet, it makes you want to jump into the nearest boat and troll the fly in hopes of landing the biggest fish of your life. Steve credits Carrie Stevens' Tomahawk as his major influence for this pattern, a noble streamer to use as a jumping off point. I am enamoured with he blend of color in the wing and like the way Steve ties the wing on this version, low to engulf the body. The topping of peacock herl (use herl close to the eye of the quill) really completes this imitative streamer. Steve also ties a version of this with a scarlet red body ribbed with silver tinsel. It has been a proven fly for dark days trolled either on a single hook or tied in a tandem rigging.