The Skwunk
Ken Driedger
Tied by Wes Newman


IMAGE MATERIAL LIST
  1. Hook - Unithread orange 6/0

  2. Thread - Salmon #2

  3. Tail - Red barbs from hackle feather or calf tail

  4. Body - Medium black chenille

  5. Rib - Gold medium tinsel, metal or mylar

  6. Hackle - Black schlappen or black ruff from Ruffed Grouse

  7. Wing - Any of the common squirrels available: Red, Grey, or Pine

  8. Head - Tying thread

METHOD

The "Skwunk" name comes from the blending of the skunk type fly with the squirrel wing. As a standard type Steelhead pattern, it goes together in that manner. The only operating trick is tying in the wing....use hair that is at least 1/4 too long for the fly. Place three medium wraps of thread where the head is to go, and trim as best you can the stub ends. Now apply two more turns of thread, and a drop of super glue on the exposed butts. Slowly and carefully, "ease" the wing back, to hide the butts under the thread, being careful not to totally pull the wing off the fly! You will have to judge the wing's length from the head, ignoring that first quarter inch. The quarter inch extra permits the scissors to get in, and trim fairly close to the thread wraps. You may want to use more than three initial thread wraps...whatever works.

COMMENTS

This fly is a variation of the regular skunk, and I tied it as a skunk option in 1982. A lot of development has occurred since then, so the fly may have been co-developed by another over time.

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Copyright © Wes Newman 1995-1999