Flatwings

I've had a number of discussions with anglers from various parts of the world online and in person regarding streamers, their effectiveness in their home waters, and favorite local patterns. One style of streamer that is very effective here in Maine in the smaller casting sizes, is the flatwing streamer. The feature that defines this style, the flat wing, normally consists of a flank feather from some species of duck tied flat on top of the hook, instead of in the classic "upright" manner that the classic New England Streamer patterns specify.

Some of the early New England Streamers were termed "Biplane", which are essentially the same tying style, though the wing material normally consisted of standard saddle hackle instead of the duck flank feather. Dr. J. Hubert Sanborn, of Waterville, Maine, created a classic biplane pattern called the "Nine-Three" the wing of which consisted of three medium-green hackles tied flat on top of the hook, over which were two black hackles tied in the upright style. Combining the best of both styles, this time-tested pattern is still used widely today on Maine lakes and ponds, particularly in early spring.

Below are 15 patterns which are popular here in Maine, though are probably little known or used in the rest of the world. The 16th pattern, Ralph's Rascal , was originated by Mr. Ralph Webster, of Monmouth, Maine, and voted as the winner of the prestigious Raske's Rascal Competition at the FF@ Maine Clave '97 Streamer Competition.

Pattern Listing

Blue Smolt

Thread	white
Underbody	lead wire
Body	silver mylar tubing secured with red thread
Tail	unravelled mylar tubing
Throat	red calftail, full
Wing	white bucktail, over which is blue bucktail, over which is a mallar flank feather tied flat

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Campbell's Fancy

Thread	black
Tail	3 short golden pheasant crests, curving upward
Body	flat silver tinsel
Throat	3 short golden pheasant crests, curving downward
Wing	bronze mallard flank feather

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Canadian Killer

Thread	red
Tag	flat gold tinsel
Tail	small bunch of yellow hackle barbules
BUTT	peacock herl
Body	red floss
Rib	oval gold tinsel
Throat	sparse brown hackle, collared, and tied bac
Wing	sparse red bucktail, over which a teal flank feather tied flat on top

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Eighty-Eight

Thread	brown
Body	rear 2/3 red wire, front 1/3 green wire. I used red and green floss for the pattern illustrated here.
Wing	natural lemon woodduck tied flat on top
Collar	soft grizzly hackle tied back.

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Flagg's Smelt

Thread	white
Tail	small bunch of red calftail, or yarn
Body	braided silver mylar tubing pressed very flat, and secured in back with red thread.
Throat	white bucktail
Wing	crystal flash, blue over which is pink,over which is blue,over which are two strands of peacock herl, over which is a mallard flank feather tied flat.
Eyes	painted yellow eyes with black pupils

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Golden Demon

Thread	black
Tail	3 golden pheasant crests curving upwards
Body	yellow floss
Rib	flat gold tinsel
Wing	bronze mallard flank feather tied flat on top
Collar	bright orange hackle collared and tied back

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Gray Charm (Biplane)

Thread	black
Tail	red hackle barbules over which yellow hackle barbules
Body	rear 1/4 embossed silver tinsel, then 3 wraps of peacock herl, then front 3/4 orange wool or floss.
Rib	embossed silver tinsel
Throat	sparse blue hackle barbules, over which are sparse red hackle barbules tied beard-style, extending 1/2 body length.
Wing	4 blue dun hackles tied flat on top and curving downward
Cheeks	tips of silver pheasant body tied sparsely
Eyes	painted yellow with red pupil

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Harris Special

Thread	black
Tail	golden pheasant tippets
Body	flat silver tinsel
Wing	sparse fine white bucktail, over which is a natural lemon woodduck flank feather tied flat on top
Throat	Sparse fine red bucktail, 2/3 length of wing

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Incredible Silver Minnow

Thread	white
Tail	grizzly hackle barbules
Body	white floss to build up underbody, then fully wrapped with flat silver tinsel. lead wire is often used to weight this pattern.
Throat	long, sparse bunch of red hackle barbules
Wing	sparse white bucktail, over which sparse blue calftail, over which mallard flank feather tied flat on top and folded down over sides
HEAD	built up with thread and painted silver
Eyes	painted black with yellow pupil

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Jackass

Thread	black
Tail	3-4 short golden pheasant crest feathers, curving upward
Body	peacock herl
Throat	orange hackle barbules tied beard style, length of body
Wing	bronze mallard tied flat on top
Collar	3 turns of coachman brown hackle, tied slightly back

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Maynard Marvel

Thread	black
Tail	red hackle barbules
Body	embossed silver tinsel
Wing	golden pheasant crest feather, curving downward, over which is sparse light blue calftail, over which a mallard flank tied flat on top.
Throat	red hackle barbules tied beard-style

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Moby Dick

Thread	dark brown
Tail	golden pheasant tippets
Body	peacock herl
Rib	brown hackle, palmered
Wing	natural lemon woodduck flank tied flat on top
Comment	The pattern shown here was tied by Richard Frank, of Northampton, MA., where the pattern is a local favorite.

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Ralph's Rascal

Thread	black
Tail	red calftail
Underbody	red thread
Body	pearl mylar tubing, secured in the rear with red thread.
Wing	pearl crystal flash, over which an equal bunch of royal blue crystal flash, over which a mallard flank feather, dyed light blue, tied flat on top
Throat	yellow hackle barbules tied beard-style
Eyes	painted white with a black pupil

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Smelt(Biplane)

Thread	black
Tail	red hackle barbules over which yellow hackle barbules
Tag	embossed silver tinsel
Body	white wool or floss
Rib	embossed silver tinsel
Wing	a white hackle over which a blue hackle, over which a gray hackle, over which a white hackle, all tied flat on top and curving downward.
Throat	sparse yellow hackle barbules, over which are sparse red hackle barbules tied beard style
Cheeks	tips of silver pheasant body feather, sparse
Eyes	painted yellow with a red pupil

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Teal Strip

Thread	black
Body	mixture of dark olive sparkle blend and gray squirrel dubbing, dyed dark olive
Wing	a dark-barred teal flank feather, over which is a mallard flank feather died olive, both tied flat on top.
Collar	soft brown hackle tied back
Comment	Originated by Rob Donald of North Jay, Maine.

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Woods Special

Thread	black
Tag	flat silver tinsel
Tail	golden pheasant tippets
Body	fluorescent orange chenille
Rib	flat silver tinsel
Wing	wood duck flank
Collar	grizzly hackle tied back
Comment	Sometimes called the Wood Special, this fly is believed to be originated by a tyer named Joe Sterling. Eric Leiser's "The Book of Fly Patterns", also provides a different dressing then the one listed above. The difference is that in this reference, there is no tag, and a throat of brown hackle is added before jungle cock cheeks, and the grizzly collar.

Tying The Flatwing Style - Step by Step