Gartside's Gurgler

Materials

How to Tie the Gartside's Gurgler

1. 1

   Step 1

   Mount hook in vise and start thread behind the eye. Wrap a thread base to the bend of the hook.

   Use a strong thread—the foam requires firm wraps.

2. 2

   Step 2

   Tie in a clump of bucktail at the bend for the tail, keeping it about one shank length long. Add flash strands on each side.

   Clean and stack the bucktail for a neat profile.

3. 3

   Step 3

   Tie in a strip of foam at the tail, on top of the shank, extending rearward. Tie in a hackle feather by the tip at the same point.

   Cut the foam strip to about 1.5x the hook shank length.

4. 4

   Step 4

   Palmer the hackle forward in even wraps to behind the eye. Tie off and trim the hackle tip.

   Space wraps evenly to create a buggy body.

5. 5

   Step 5

   Pull the foam strip forward over the hackle body. Tie down securely about 1/4 shank-length behind the eye, creating a raised lip.

   The foam should be snug but not compressed flat.

6. 6

   Step 6

   Fold the remaining foam back over itself to form the signature gurgling lip that extends over the eye. Secure with thread wraps.

   The lip should extend slightly past the hook eye to push water.

7. 7

   Step 7

   Build a neat thread head, whip finish, and apply head cement. Trim the foam lip to desired shape.

   A wider lip creates more surface disturbance.