Butcher (full dress fishing fly) On the final day on a early November trip last year we decided to fish one last run before calling it quits. As I was getting out of the truck I noticed a full dress Butcher stuck in the visor. It was a little sun faded (don t ask me why I had a full dress fly stuck in my visor) but I thought what the heck, I ll give it a swim. As we walked into the run I let my buddy take the lower end and I hiked up to the top. I had never hooked a fish in the top end so I was not fishing with too much confidence. The fly popped in the crystal clear water and it was just fun working it through the chop. As I was making my way down the run I was more intent on watching my buddy work through the bucket. I was only in knee deep water and it was moving pretty fast. There were a few nice sized nuggets right below me and I thought if I had a chance it would come from one. I made a cast and set the fly. As the fly swung it was stopped with a solid grab. The fish was on and fought well. As I pulled the full dress Butcher from it's jaw I had to just giggle. The fish ended up being my last summer fish for 2010, one I will never forget. So for this year trip I tied up another full dress fishing fly and will give it a swing when the time is right. Have fun with this one and thanks for looking. I will post up the SBS tonight when I get some time. The Butcher
This fishing version has some material substitutions. Oval tinsel for twist, king fisher for chatterer, turkey for GP tail and goose shoulder for swan. Other than that it s pretty close. Hook: 3/0 Alec Jackson Tip: Oval tinsel Tag: Yellow silk Tail: GP crest topped with King Fisher Butt: Black ostrich Body: Claret silk, light blue, dark claret, and dark blue dubbing in equal parts Rib: Flat and oval silver tinsel Hackle: Claret from the second turn of ribbing Wing: GP tippet, GP flank veiled with teal, yellow, red and blue goose shoulder, bustard, turkey, and mallard Collar: Yellow hackle and Guinea Topping: GP crest Cheeks: King Fisher Horns: Blue and gold Macaw
Start the thread at the bend of the hook. Secure in a length of tinsel and wrap the thread down the bend binding the tinsel as you go. Take three turns with the tinsel making sure there are no gaps in the wraps. Secure the tinsel with the tying thread and return to the bend. Remember any lumps in the thread base with effect the silk, so make sure to take your time. Next secure in a length of silk and wrap it to the tip, then back and secure. Tie in the crest feather for the tail and top with King Fisher. I went just a little long on the tail, you don t want the tail to go much past the bend of the hook. I also try to mirror the shape of the tail to the shape of the bend. Next secure in an ostrich herl and wrap for a butt.
Wrap the thread forward ¼. Secure in the flat tinsel followed by the oval followed by a length of silk. Wrap the silk to the butt binding down the ribbing as you go. Return the floss to the ¼ joint and secure.
Secure in a length of light blue silk. Tie a knot in the end to form a loop. Split the floss in two equal parts and load with light blue dubbing. Give it a spin. Dub ½ of the next ¼ section. Secure in the body hackle then dub the remaining ½. Using matching floss for the loops, dub the remaining two sections of dark claret and dark blue dubbing. Do not crowd the eye of the hook. You will need some room to work on up there.
Bring the ribbing forward making five open wraps. The last wrap should end under the hook shank. Secure the tinsel and with Velcro rat out some of the dubbing.
Bring the hackle forward starting at the second turn of tinsel. The stem of the hackle should rest behind the oval tinsel. The tinsel will help protect the stem or so they say.
Next secure in two tippet feathers placed back to back. As you can see I have stripped off some of the barbs from the top of the tippets. Next secure in a red GP flank feather on both sides. The two feathers are then veiled with two strips of teal.
Next secure in a yellow schlappen hackle and wrap as a collar. Pull all the barbs down to form the throat. Do the same with the guinea, just a few less turns.
Marry up both sides of the wing. Measure the wing to length and cup the married wing over the under wing. While pinching the wing take two firm securing wraps. Pulling straight down or up will keep the wing from spinning around the hook shank.
Secure in the mallard as a roof, then the crest for the topping, then the king fisher for the cheeks followed by the macaw for the horns. Take your time and remember less thread is best. Clip all the tag ends and build up a head. Give it a whip and a couple coats of varnish and this one is ready for the water. Full dress salmon flies are not easy and they do take some time to tie. But now having spent some time on its constructing it will be far more special when I hook a fish on it. For me there is nothing better than connecting with a bit of chrome (even colored chrome) with a fancy fly. Good tying and better fishing.