Fly Box Goddess

Recipe
Hook:  Mustad 33903 (Size 4)
Thread:  6/0 Uni (Camel)
Tail:  Spirit River Mottlebou
Body/Head:  Medium Rootbeer Chenille
Hackle:  Rootbeer Palmer Chenille

Spirit River's Mottlebou

Hackle:  Ginger Mallard
Weight:  Small Hourglass (Lead)

This is SFB version of Mike Jacobs Bronze Goddess.  There was nothing wrong with the original, but I made some adjustments according to our tastes at SFB.

First off, I replaced the chick-a-bou tail with Spirit River's Brown Speckled Mottlebou.  Mottlebou is one of my favorite products because it has a nice random color scheme.  The action in the water is amazing too.  If you don't have this material you need to find it

Rootbeer Palmer Chenille & UV Chenille

Secondly I replaced the palmered rooster body feather with another SFB favorite...Rootbeer Palmer Chenille from Wapsi.  Palmer chenille is a durable alternative to hackle that is perfect for warm water patterns.  This material adds the bulk needed to prop up the mallard feather, but also offers a bit of sparkle.  Wapsi Palmer Chenille is available in many colors, but I always have orange and rootbeer on hand (lots of it)!  Notice the sparkle in the thorax portion of the picture above...that is palmer chenille doing its job.

Mustad 33903 Kink Shank Hook

I also made a hook change that was inspired by Joe Cornwall's Mixed Media pattern of Fly Fish Ohio.  Joe uses a kink shanked hooks to help hold the dumb bell eye in place.  The weight fits right in the kink allowing you to secure the weight easier.  I used the Mustad 33903 on all of my weight forward patterns.  The kinks also keep all of your flies in proportion.  The use of the kink shanked hook yet another great tip from the folks at Fly Fish Ohio.

The Bronze Goddess was one of our favorites in 2010 and 2011.  Mike Jacobs did a fabulous job by adding the mallard flank feather.  That little collar does wonders for this pattern.

Mike's original pattern used common materials and I'd like to think we kept it pretty simple too.  Palmer chenille and mottlebou should be in your kit if you tie warm water patterns. 

Here is Mike Jacobs original pattern  - talk about awesome!