The Foxee Bastard is one of those patterns that was more or less stumbled upon. The name reflects the primary ingredient of the fly, Red Fox Tail, and the fact that it is a "bastardization" of a few other patterns, namely a tan Wooly Bugger, Sparrow, and Br'er Possum. I have recently used this pattern with excellent success on Erie Basin Steelhead and large Brown Trout at the Mad River in Ohio; I am confident that it will prove to be highly effective for Smallmouth Bass this summer as well. This article should allow you to tie your own and join in the fun.
Materials You Will Need:
- Daiichi 2220, Size 6. - Copper bead head. - Tan or brown Hen hackle. - Tan Chenille. - Red Fox tail. - Mirage or Krystal Flash.
Step 1: Place the copper bead on the hook and secure with a few wraps of thread.
Step 2: Take a clump of Red Fox tail approximately half the width of a pencil. Using the pinch method, attach the tail to the hook and secure to the hook shank, leaving the bobbin at the bend of the hook.
Step 3: Prepare the Hen hackle by stripping off the ‘fluff’, then attach using the pinch method. Once the hackle is in place, tie in the tan chenille at the same point and advance the thread to approximately 1/8” behind the eye of the hook.
Step 4: Make even wraps forward on the hook shank with the tan chenille, stopping approximately 1/8” behind the eye of the hook.
Step 5: Wrap the hackle forward evenly and tie off at the same point as the chenille. Be careful as you wrap not to trap hackle fibers against the hook shank.
Step 6: Place two strips of flash down each side of the hook. I do this by tying a longer piece in at the center (middle) of the piece, folding it over and then wrapping over the top of it. That method allows for an easier way to add flash to both sides and keeps the flash from pulling out.
Step 7: The final step is to add the Red Fox tail collar. Cut out a section of tail approximately two-to-three-times as large as the tail is. Before tying in the material, remove as much of the guard hair at the base of the clump as you can. Next, tie in the hair, surrounding the shank and extending just past the shank, and secure with multiple wraps to hold the tail in place.
Now, with the hair securely lashed to the hook, trim off the excess over the bead head and wrap a good thread neck to clean up the look and cover the remaining fox tail. Whip finish and Voila!...Foxee Bastard is ready to hit the water.
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Hatches Magazine Subscription
Price: $6.95 for each issue
The Premiere issue is ready for shipping & the Fall 2008 issue will be available September 1st.
