Fly Tying Inventory
Babine Special
A short, bright steelhead fly built from a handful of common materials. A white marabou tail sits behind two separate balls of medium orange chenille, each with a short collar of white cock hackle in front of it, and red thread forms the head. It uses only basic techniques: a marabou tail, wrapped chenille and a wound hackle. Tied here on a size 6 Umpqua U503 hook.
Ready to tie this?
This pattern needs 5 materials. Sign up free to check which ones you already own.
Materials
Umpqua U-Series U503, size 6
6
8/0 thread, red
Red · 8/0
Strung marabou, white
White
Chenille, medium, orange
Orange · Medium
White cock hackle
White
How to Tie the Babine Special
- 1
Step 1
Clamp the hook in the vise, start the red thread behind the eye and wrap back to the bend.
- 2
Step 2
Tie in a bunch of white marabou at the bend for the tail. Bind the butts along the shank and trim any excess.
- 3
Step 3
Tie in the orange chenille at the base of the tail and wind it over itself to build a round ball. Tie it off and trim.
- 4
Step 4
Tie in a white hackle just in front of the ball and wind a few turns as a short collar. Tie it off and trim.
- 5
Step 5
Tie in a second length of orange chenille in front of the collar and build a second ball the same size as the first. Tie it off and trim.
- 6
Step 6
Tie in another white hackle in front of the second ball, wind a short collar, then tie it off and trim.
- 7
Step 7
Form a small red head, whip finish and cut the thread.
Watch Tying Tutorial
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h6mTRgwxF0c
Credit: River2Beach