CHRIS' SQUID PATTERN RECIPE

HOOK: Mustad 34011 #1/0
THREAD: Danville's Flat Waxed Nylon - White
TAIL: White Bucktail; Saddle Hackles - White
FLASH: Polarflash - Pearl #2001 and Krystal Flash - Gray Ghost
BODY: E-Z Shape Sparkle Body - Pearl over white yarn
EYES: E-Z Shape Sparkle Body - Pure Black on Pure White
HEAD: Hair collar made with white Rabbit Fur strip; Hackle collar tied with soft white saddle hackle

ALTERNATE COLORS:
White (Shown above)
Pink
Coral

Begin the Chris' Squid by tying in a clump of white bucktail. I use a fairly hollow bucktail that flares a bit - use the hair that comes from the base of the bucktail...this hair is usually too hollow to make deceivers with, but works well for this squid. Tie in the clump so that the tips of the hair extend about 2 1/2 inches beyond the hook bend. Trim the butt ends and lash down. The butt ends should not extend past the center of the hook shank towards the hook eye. Tie in a sparse clump of Pearl Polarflash, then tie in 8 or 9 saddle hackles. I like to attach these feathers in a semi-circle around the sides and top of the hook so that the feathers stick out on all sides, in contrast to the streamlined saddle hackle tail on a deceiver where the feathers are matched to one another. Leave the squid feathers "unmatched" for best effect. I add spots to the feathers with a black "Sharpie" magic marker. After tying in the saddle hackles, add a bit of Gray Ghost or Pearl Krystal Flash. The "arms" of the squid are now complete. Wrap a few turns of white yarn to form a short underbody, then tie off and cut the thread. Be sure to leave the forward half (near the hook eye) of the hook shank bare - this is where the rabbit fur collar gets added later. Coat the yarn underbody with the Pearl color of E-Z Shape Sparkle Body. Let dry for a couple of hours, then add eyes using the Pure White and Pure Black colors of E-Z Shape Sparkle Body. Let dry overnight.

Attach thread again, and tie in a strip of white rabbit fur in the appropriate color. Wrap this strip forward to form a hair collar (For more tips on tying rabbit fur collars, check out our Bunny Fly article). Tie off the fur strip behind the hook eye, being sure to leave 1/8 inch of the hook shank behind the hook eye bare. Tie in a soft white saddle hackle and wrap this feather as a hackle collar in this remaining space. Tie off and trim the thread, and coat thread wraps with head cement or Pearl color of E-Z Shape Sparkle Body.

Note: This is a challenging pattern, but a very useful fly whenever gamefish feed on squid. Great pattern in Northeast rips for bass and blufish. Good tying and good fishing!

-Chris Windram