#31-2013 - Edson Light Tiger Bucktail

#31-2013 Edson Light Tiger Bucktail - Darren MacEachern

Tied by: Darren MacEachern
Originated by: William R. Edson
Source: Streamer Fly Tying and Fishing: Joseph Bates Jr. (1966), Pg. 262, 266-267

Hook: Mustad 9575 #2
Thread: Black FWN
Tag: Gold flat tinsel
Tail: Barred wood duck
Body: Peacock herl wound with white thread
Wing: Yellow bucktail topped by 2 red hackle tips
Eye: Edson eyes
Head: Black (Yellow lacquer)

Notes: Bill Edson's Tigers, both the Light and Dark versions, have been perennial favorites among anglers with full creels. The pattern was created with influence by a pattern originated by Dick Eastman called Dick's Killer. Mr. Eastman and Mr. Edson had been fishing together near Mr. Eastman's Idlewild Camp on Second Connecticut Lake. Mr. Edson was given a few samples of the pattern and went on to develop his own version of the fly. Mr. Edson tied his pattern using red, yellow and black heads, and early examples of the Edson Light Tiger also had a yellow lacquered head. Both patterns were quite successful for bringing in rainbow and brown trout.

The body of the streamer is tied with peacock herl, and on larger hooks, you may find that you need 2 or 3 bunches of herl tied in along the shank in order to cover the length. Mr. Edson specifies using a white thread spun with the herls. This adds some extra durability in the fragile herl. Silver wire, or oval tinsel could also be used to the same effect.

The eye used on the pattern is a small piece of brass that was used in place of jungle cock nails. If you do not have any of the eyes, a jungle cock nail tied in short will work just fine. The recipe states that red hackle tips are used on the wing, but a few hackle fibers or duck wing slips may also be used.