Stream Time: Canadian Arctic Deceiver

For many years I wasn't a big fan of deceivers--I used to think of them simply as overwrought hair wing streamers. However, I've come to realize that the profile is hard to beat when imitating various baitfish and the pattern's simplicity belies some of it's key design features--including the bucktail collar that keeps the tail from fouling around the hook. I first used these for chasing Trevally in Hawaii about four years ago and over the last two seasons for Smallmouth Bass. Recently I've employed them fishing Bull Trout, Cutthroat and (much to my surprise) Rainbow Trout.

I tied this fly up for a recent challenge over on the FlyBC Flytying Forum (see link at right). I called it a Canadian Arctic Deceiver originally, mostly due to the White/Red colour combination and the use of Arctic Fox in the tail assembly. The tail is a departure from the spun saddle feathers used originally by Lefty Krey, but given that I usually tie this in smaller sizes this tail allows for both movement and an appropriate profile. I generally tye this on longer hook shanks (i.e. Mustad 9671, 9672, etc.) for freshwater and regular shank hooks (i.e. Mustad 34007) for saltwater applications.

Canadian Arctic Deceiver

Recipe:

Hook: Mustad 80400 bnl
Thread: Red Benecchi 12/0
Tail: Cream/white arctic fox tail flanked w/ 2 Chinchilla hackles & 2-4 strands "root beer" midge flash
Body: Pearl mylar flat braid (optional)
Wing/Collar: Bucktail - grey on top, white on sides and bottom
Head: Red tying thread
Eyes: Holo stick on mylar (optional)
Head Coat: Clear nail varnish or epoxy

Step 1: Tye-in thread base followed by fox along the shank (starting the tail a few eye widths to the rear to leave room for the bucktail collar.

Step 2: Flank tail with two chinchilla hackles per side about the same length as the fox tail.

Step 3: Add 2 strands of midge flash to each side, doubling over to form 4 strands over the tail flanks on each side. Trim to length (leave a bit uneven).