GOLD WHISTLER

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

This variation has been adopted specifically for the freshwater impoundment barramundi when fishing deep water.

Hook:
#1 to 5/0 Mustad 34007 or Gamakatsu SL12S

Thread:
Flat waxed to match collar colour

Materials:
Wing – 2 bunches of bucktail with a bunch of gold  flash between
Body – 2-3 wraps of red chenille
Collar – black cross cut zonker (bunny hackle)
Eyes – large silver aluminium barbell with red 3D eyes glued in

Weight - 0.030 lead wire

Weedguard - optional

Rattle - optional

Instructions:

1.   Attach eyes just behind the hook eye. Lay down a base of thread to over the hook point.

2.   Apply 10 wraps of lead wire around the hook shank directly behind the eyes and over wrap with thread.

3.   If using a rattle, secure it in some clear heat shrink and secure at the bend of the hook.

4.   Select a small bunch of bucktail and stack so tips are even. Cut to length so that the tips extend past the bend by a distance equal to two shank lengths. Tie-in over the point and wrap forward to secure.

4.   Take about 8 strands of gold flash, double them around the thread and tie-in on top of the bucktail. Trim the ends even about 20-25 mm past the tips of the bucktail. Wetting the materials before tying makes them easier to handle and keeps them together.

6.   Select a second bunch of bucktail the same length as the first, even the tips and tie-in on top of the flash.

7.   Apply a few drops of head cement to the bound area.

8.   Attach the end of the chenille over the hook point, make two or three wraps to cover the binding of the bucktail, tie off and trim the excess.

9.   Attach hackle directly in front of the chenille and move the thread to the eyes.

10.   Wrap the hackle around the lead wrapping up to just behind the eyes, hold the hackle fibres to the rear and secure with thread. Usually about 3 or 4 turns of the hackle will give the required bulk to displace water.

11.  Form a neat head around the eyes using the thread and whip finish. Apply head cement to secure.

Notes:
Other colours to try – all white with red zonker, all black , black with orange zonker.
The lead weight directly behind the eyes will cause the fly to sink headfirst with the tail flash shimmering to simulate the scale shed from a wounded baitfish.
Fit a double mono weed guard when working in around snags and weed beds.

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