The Patuxent Special is a streamer used primarily for Smallmouth Bass. However, the very same fly (weighted) is an excellent choice for Brown Trout in the Smoke Hole and similar waters - especially if it is fished late in the day and into the evening.

I tie my version on a number six (6) or eight (8) straight eyed hook. My preference is the Mustad 9674, mainly due to its resilience. However, you can substitute a streamer hook with an aberdeen bend, but remember, the aberdeen is a much lighter wire with less memory. So, if you plan to fish for Smallmouth bass, use the 9674 or similar stiff wire hook.

The Recipe:
Hook: 9674 Mustad - Sizes 4 - 8 Weight: 3 to 4 millimeters of light lead wire onto the shank Thread: Black #6 uni-thread or equal Tail: Fox Squirrel Tail Hair - under side Dubbing: Rust Colored dubbing (antron) Hackle: Brown or Furnace stiff hackle

Tying Steps
Step one: Place the hook in the vice and wrap the hook shank with approximately 3 to 4 centimeters of light lead wire or, if you prefer, a leadless substitute. Start the lead about 2 millimeters behind the eye. Once the lead is wrapped, over-wrap it with thread starting one eye width behind the eye and winding back toward the bend. Finish wrapping back until you have reached the start of the bend in the hook.

NOTE: You may want to wrap the lead wire on counter to the way you will wrap thread and other materials.

Step two: Cut a small bunch of hair from the bottom side of a Fox Squirrel tail. Even the tips of the hair in a stacker (the tail should be no longer than the shank of the hook). Using the pinch-pull method, secure the tail on top of the hook, right above the barb.

NOTE: Because squirrel hair is very hard and not easily compressed, once I have the tail hair secured with three or four wraps of thread, I put a very small amount of zap-a-gap on the thread and ends of the hair to assure that the tail does not pull free from the hook.

Step three: Tie in the hackle feather - tip first - at the tail, with the dull side facing down.

NOTE: Try pulling the hackle feather upright to 90 degrees before you start to wind it forward, this helps to eliminate twisting. Be gentle or you'll break the feather off. If that happens often disregard this advice and blame the editor.

Step four: Begin to apply the dubbing. You want to start small at the tail and graduate the body as you move to the thorax. Once you have covered the last of the weighted area with dubbing, spiral the hackle feather forward with tight, close wraps. Tie off the hackle about two millimeters (width of the hooks eye) short of the eye. Build a good head and whip finish. Cement or lacquer the head.

This fly can also be fished on the surface if tied without weight. Retrieve it like a swimming terrestrial and be alert, strikes are aggressive.

As listed, it is fished like most streamers, across and down, swung through the current and retrieved in short strips. Be alert at the end of the swing, fish often hit streamers just as they stop. If you are fishing for bass, they like a bit faster retrieve. You should also try a bottom bounce retrieve along the edges when fishing for bass.

For more tips on when, how and where to fish this excellent fly, ask Ray Gano or Doug Hutzell.

Creekside Fly Tying Roundtable

Several tyers from Creekside Anglers meet the second Wednesday of the month at Martin's grocery in Martinsburg. Tyers set up in the cafe area from 7-9 pm and demonstrate simple flies for visitors that happen by. It's a great time to enjoy the comraderie of fellow tyers and fishers in an informal setting. Guests and kids welcome. For more info on the monthly roundtable contact
Ray Gano at mttop82@comcast.net