Week 2.....The Slumpbuster...

I might be away from the computer tomorrow, so I'm going to go ahead and start the tying contest a little early. The Slumpbuster is this week's fly of choice.

Here you go. Tied with 9 digits and a compression brace to help a really bad cut heal on my index finger.



Hook:#10 Streamer/ Nymph Hook
Weight: Medium cone and five wraps of lead.
Body: Gold metallic thread
Tail and Hackle: Dyed olive pine squirrel

The tying contest continues on until 10pm or so tonight....

Hook: #8 streamer
Thread: black
Weight: cone and lead on the front of the shank
Rib: chartreuse wire
Body: gold braid
Wing/Collar: olive pine squirrel

Ugh! GOPCo in Greensboro has a limited tying supply section right now. No Pine Squirrel strips in any color. Just Rabbit Zonker strips.. I was looking forward to adding some of those Slumpbusters to my box. Better luck next week.

I did get some nymph stuff so I am going to tie some bead head Hare's Ears to fill out my box.

It can be done with narrow rabbit zonkers in a pinch.

Yeah, the color selection was not what I wanted.

sorry buffalo, I got the last pack they had a couple days ago...

Oh, that's OK. First come first served. It is just a little frustrating to look around in there and see empty hooks where the Pine Squirrel strips used to be. Either they don't get much tying business or they are not keeping it stocked. GOPCo in Winston-Salem is kind of in the same boat. I am almost tempted to drive to Roanoke and hit Orvis for some stuff.

Feather Craft

TANNED CANADIAN PINE SQUIRREL HALF HIDE

Lots zonker stripes per hide. Better measure than small packs by far.

SBeane I believe John Barr would be proud. I can't find a criticism of it. That's my second favorite color for em. You are a excellent tier

Mine I didn't put as many laces around the strip as I should have. Left a gap in the strip because of it. Not as visually appealing.

Recommend this pattern for trout highly. Bigger versions with rabbit work great for Largemouth bass. I've used up to a size 2 for bass in the pond.

Good looking flies this week guys!!

Brad-- I can't find much that you can improve. Excellent Slumpbuster!!
Seth-- I agree with Brad...John Barr would be very proud!! I can't find ANYTHING wrong with your fly...

Brad- I can't see anything wrong with yours...great fly!


This was my first time tying this pattern and I've never even fished one haha. I'm gonna have to change that soon as it seems like the squirrel would move like crazy...thanks for the opportunity Tyler.

Seth

Are you kidding me?!?! This is your first Slumpbuster?!?! It looks like it's your 700,000th!! You'll be amazed at how awesome this fly is to fish. Dead drift it through a riffle (maybe give it few twitches) and watch your line tighten...

Fish two in tandem works wonders to.

I figured I would give the ol' Slumpbuster a try today since I had some time to myself. My work schedule makes it hard for me to do the contest on my long weeks.

#10 Daiichi 4x long streamer hook
3/16" cone head
non-lead on the shank
3/0 black thread
gold sparkle braid
gold ultra-wire
brown rabbit zonker strips

Half way...



Finished product... I did trim the tail when I was done to make it shorter.



It took me a couple of versions to get here. Not sure about how the rabbit will fish but I thought it looked good enough to fish with. I also did a version in olive with a peacock sparkle braid body.

Brad and Seth those are some nice looking flies! I can see that the squirrel makes a big difference in the overall look. I had some trouble with the cone head tilting at an angle when I pushed the lead into the cavity. Is that a problem? Can you do anything about it? I tried one loose but the cone head moves a little.

Place the hook in the vice after you've placed the cone on. Add as many wraps of lead or lead free wire as you want. Tilt the hook in the vice. Add glue or epoxy to the wire inside the cone and let it set before the next step. That's sort of para phrased from John Barr's book. Works.

Ok, that makes sense. Guess I need to get some glue. What kinds of glue do you use on flies? I have the requisite bottle of head cement but that seems too thin to do much good.

I use Hard as Hull cement. It's served me well, although Dave's Flexament is also good too.



Also, awesome Slumbuster Les!!