Recently I got hold of a bunch of Whiting Soft Hackle with Chickabou patches – more precise the Coq De Leon hen saddles. All of these had markings resembling the partridge body hackles – and some were dyed in subdued pastel colours. I immediately saw the possibilities for making some beautiful soft hackle spider wet flies and nymphs. But somehow the subtle markings also made me think of shrimps, sculpins and other morsels that would fit a streamer hook or a saltwater shrimp hook… better than a wet fly hook.

So for a couple of days these saddles were just laying around on my tying bench, while the idea kinda matured. I wanted to combine the soft distinctively marked feathers with a hair wing and my own Woolly Sparkle Dub. For the wing I chose squirrel tail and grey fox body hair, materials that also had natural markings on the fibres. The Woolly Sparkle Dub, being primarily natural wool dubbing added colour, translucency, glow and a bit of sparkle.

The result was a series of streamers that might be taken for a sculpin, shrimp or just something alive and tasty. I tie a basic version in a variety of colours – and some that are pimped with shrimp- or bead chain eyes. All these flies are tied on an Ahrex NS156 Traditional Shrimp hook.

Being soft… and made to hunt and all… uhm. I think I’ll name the fly Soft Dog :0)

Find more info, fly patterns and tying- and fishing tips on Woolly Sparkle Dub here…

Watch Woolly Sparkle Dub videos here… 

You can buy Woolly Sparkle Dub right here… 

You can buy Natural Sculpin Wool here…