The Popsicle Streamer is a classic and vibrant fly used in fly fishing, particularly for salmon and steelhead. Its bright colors and flowing motion in the water make it a highly effective fly for attracting fish in both clear and murky waters. While the Popsicle Streamer has been popular in Pacific Northwest fishing, it’s also a go-to pattern for many anglers targeting other species like trout and bass.
In this blog post, I’ll walk you through how to tie the Popsicle Streamer fly, covering the materials, steps, and a few tips to make this an effective part of your fly box.
Materials You’ll Need:
Before starting, gather the following materials:
Hook: Size 2-6 streamer hook (Mustad or similar)
Thread: 6/0 orange or red
Tail: Marabou in purple
Body: Chenille in orange
Ribbing: Silver wire or tinsel
Wing: Marabou in red
Collar: Marabou in orange
Flash: Crystal flash or flashabou (optional)
Head cement: For finishing
Step-by-Step Instructions
Step 1: Secure the Hook
Place your hook into the vise, ensuring that it's held tightly. Attach your orange or red thread to the hook, starting just behind the hook eye, and wrap it evenly down the shank toward the hook bend. Stop just above the hook point.
Step 2: Add the Tail
Select a generous clump of purple marabou, making sure it's long and fluffy. Tie in the marabou at the hook bend so that it extends about 1 to 1.5 times the length of the hook shank. This gives the Popsicle Streamer its signature flowing movement in the water. Trim the excess marabou, then secure it tightly with your thread.
Tip: Don’t worry if the marabou looks too long—it will flow naturally when the fly is fished in the water.
Step 3: Add the Ribbing
Take a length of silver wire or tinsel, and tie it in at the same point as the tail, securing it to the side of the hook shank. This will add some flash and also reinforce the chenille body, ensuring durability.
Step 4: Build the Body
Now, grab your orange chenille and tie it in at the hook bend, wrapping the chenille forward in smooth, even turns to create the body of the fly. Stop wrapping about two-thirds of the way up the shank, leaving room for the wing and collar. Once the chenille is wrapped, tie it off with a few secure thread wraps.
Step 5: Wrap the Ribbing
Take your silver wire or tinsel and wrap it in open spirals over the chenille body. This not only adds flash but also helps hold the chenille in place. Tie off the ribbing near the front of the body, trim the excess, and secure it with a few thread wraps.
Step 6: Add the Wing
For the wing, use red marabou to create contrast with the purple tail and orange body. Select a clump of red marabou, and tie it in just ahead of the chenille body, extending it backward over the fly. The wing should be slightly shorter than the tail, giving the fly a layered appearance in the water.
If you want extra flash, now’s the time to add a few strands of crystal flash or flashabou, tying them in under or over the marabou wing.
Step 7: Add the Collar
To add a collar that enhances the movement and color of the fly, select a clump of orange marabou and tie it in directly in front of the red wing. The collar should flare out slightly around the body of the fly. Use your fingers or a bodkin to distribute the fibers evenly around the shank, ensuring it looks full and lively.
Step 8: Build the Head
Move your thread toward the hook eye and build up a smooth thread head, making sure the materials are tightly secured. The thread color will show, so aim for neat wraps of orange or red to match the overall fly design.
Step 9: Finish the Fly
Once the head is finished, whip finish the fly by making a few tight wraps, then cut the thread. To secure everything, add a drop or two of head cement to the thread wraps to ensure durability.
Fly Tying Tips for Success:
Use High-Quality Marabou: The action of the Popsicle Streamer comes from the marabou's soft, flowing fibers. Choose high-quality marabou with long, flexible fibers for the best movement in the water.
Tension Control: Keep an even tension on the thread when tying in materials, but avoid too much pressure to prevent crushing the marabou fibers.
Experiment with Colors: While purple, red, and orange are the traditional colors for the Popsicle Streamer, feel free to experiment with different combinations like pink, chartreuse, and blue for different water conditions and target species.
Fishing the Popsicle Streamer: This fly works best when fished in a swinging motion, especially in rivers with strong currents. It can be highly effective for salmon and steelhead, but you might also find success using it for trout, bass, or other predatory fish.
The Popsicle Streamer is an essential fly for anglers targeting large, aggressive fish. With its vibrant colors and flowing movement, it’s perfect for drawing attention in a variety of water conditions. Tying this fly yourself is not only a fun project but also allows you to customize it to your specific needs and preferences. So, give this pattern a try, and you’ll be well on your way to landing more fish with this iconic streamer!
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