BARRA WHISTLER

A variation of Dan Blanton's original pattern for " Flashtail Whistler"

This pattern combines the success of the Clouser design with the realistic action of polarfibre when it is in the water to make a very effective pattern. The addition of the deerhair collar helps prevent the materials wrapping around the hook bend. Varying the thickness of the collar provides a fly that displaces more water.

The gold and black combination has proved effective in the freshwater impoundments and low light or discoloured water.

Hook:
1/0 to 3/0 Gamakatsu SL12S

Thread:
Flat waxed to match collar colour or red

Materials

Belly - orange polarfibre
Back - orange polarfibre
Flash - gold Sparkleflash or Polarflash
Collar -  black deerhair

Eyes -  barbell with red/black pupils or large gold bead chain

Weedguard - 30lb Mason hard mono

Instructions

1.   With the hook the right way up in the vice, lay a base of thread along the hook shank.

2.   Take a piece of mono, double it and attach at the hook bend and wrap securely to just around the bend. Apply superglue to secure

3.   Attach the eyes about one eye width behind the hook eye.

4.   Attach a bunch of polarfibre over the hook point.

5.   Tie in 6 strands flash in front of the last tie and trim so that it is slightly longer than the previous tie.

6.   Tie in another bunch of polarfibre slightly in front of the flash tie in point. This tie should be just behind the eyes. This bunch should be slightly shorter than the previous bunch of polarfibre to achieve the baitfish shape.

7.   Take a small stack of deerhair and attach behind the hook eye with a few wraps of thread.

8.   Turn the hook over.

9.   Take another small stack of deer hair and attach behind the hook eye.

10.  Maneuver the deer hair so that it is between the barbell eyes on the top and the bottom of the hook. Hold in place and secure behind the barbell eyes ( on the point side) with a few wraps of thread.

11.  Fold the two pieces of mono forward and attach to the respective sides of the hook shank just behind the hook eye. Adjust the size by sliding  the loops through the thread wraps. Trim off excess mono and melt the ends slightly (this will prevent the weed guard pulling out). 

12. Form a neat head, whip finish and apply some head cement to secure.

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