Flatwings
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.
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 |
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 |
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 |
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. |
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 |
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 |
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 |
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 |
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 |
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 |
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 |
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. |
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 |
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 |
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. |
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. |
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Comments
How about the Brown
How about the Brown Owl?
i've been looking fo
i've been looking for this for 4 months tyvm....