Black Cherry Spey Fly

Black Cherry Spey FlyHave you seen Kevin Feenstra’s DVD entitled, “Searching for Steelhead”? It shows, in great detail, Kevin’s system for swinging big streamers and spey flies for steelhead. Included in the DVD are video instructions for tying several of his favorite patterns. Here’s a quick warning: If your fly tying materials are not already short in the flashabou department, you certain will be after tying a few of his flies.

The Black Cherry Spey Fly caught my attention, so I whipped up a couple. In no time at all, it accounted for 3 silver rockets. So, I thought I would bring it to your attention. Here’s the tie:

Hook: Daiichi 2050 spey hook, size 2-5 (size 5 shown)
Thread: 6/0 black or red (color doesn’t really matter)
Flash: opal Flashabou Mirage, and pink Flashabou (fushia)
Thorax: Any dark Ice Dub (peacock, olive or black)
Wing: black marabou
Collar: wine marabou

BCS11. Tie in three or four strands of opal Flashabou Mirage and wind forward.

BCS22. Fold back the excess and secure with a few turns of thread.

BCS33. Trim off or strip away the marabou from one side of the stem. Tie in the stem by the tip.

BCS44. Dub the thread with Ice Dub, and build up a short bulky thorax. Don't crowd the eye.

BCS55. Palmer the black marabou forward over the thorax. Don’t crowd the eye.

BCS66. Tie in a wine marabou plume by the tip, and make two or three wraps immediately in front of the thorax. Don’t crowd the eye.

BCS77. Tie in about 5 strands of pink flashabou on both the top and bottom of the fly. Create a small neat head. Whip finish. Trim all pink flashabou and mirage to the same length as the black marabou. Done.