Ward's Articulated Streamer

Recipe
Hook: Mustad 3366 Size 2
Thread: 6/0 White Uni
Tail (Tip): White Marabou
Tail (Body): White Pearl Wapsi Palmer Chenille (Large Length)
Transition: White Marabou
Body (Main): White Pearl Wapsi Palmer Chenille (Large Length)
Eyes: Prismatic Dome Eyes
Weight: 10-20 Wraps .025 Lead Substitute

This is a fly that I initially emailed to Ward Bean at www.warmwaterflytyer.com and it didn't look this good. Ward had an articulated minnow pattern on his site that used hackle to build up a nice body. I loved the pattern so much I started trying to mess with different materials. This is when Wapsi Palmer Chenille came into the picture. One email to Ward, he made tweaks and made a beautiful streamer. This is my version of Ward's Articulated Streamer followed right to the tee. Go to www.warmwaterflytyer.com for detailed tying instruction.

If you look closely you can see this fly is actually 2 hooks joined with hard mono (see picture on right). The rear hook section is clipped, so there is no hook - just the shank. The mono joint allows this streamer to really have a beautiful swimming action. Ward is a great tyer, so this fly performs as expected...fabulously!

The best thing about Ward's patterns is he often uses the Mustad 3366 hook. For some reason many tyers are starting to shy away from this hook for fancy Tiemco hooks costing 4X the cash. I get these hooks from size 1/0 - 12 at Captain Hooks for $3 per 100.

Prismacolor markers dress out the fly. I went simple and used with a 60% Cool Gray marker, but Ward does some up that look exactly like baby perch and bluegill. Give it a shot, it is fun to dress these little guys up. Don't bother with a Sharpie....they will fade.

Kudos to Ward for perfecting this pattern and making it beautiful!