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Headbanger Sculpin – great patterns are not by chance
Headbanger Sculpin
Tying Instructions
1. Lay a thread foundation on the hook shank from the 1/4 length behind the eye to the bend of the hook.
2. Select two blood marabou plumes and match up the tips.
3. Measure the length of the marabou to be about 2 times the length of the shank.
4. Secure the marabou to the bend of the hook and secure the tag end of the marabou with thread wraps to the mid-point of the shank. Twist the remaining tag and clip with scissors.
5. Fold a Schlappen feather back along it’s axis. This will help to sweep the fibers back along the shank. Attach the schlappen feather, by the tip just in front of the tail tie-position. Secure the tip along the shank with thread wraps and bring the thread back to the tail tie-in position.
6. Next, attach a section of Estaz to the base of the tail and wrap forward.
7. Wrap the Estaz to the 1/4 point of the shank and secure with thread wraps.
8. Palmer the schlappen feather with spirol wraps up to the end of the Estaz. Use your fingers to stroke the fibers back on every turn.
9. Secure the Schlappen just in front of the Estaz with thread wraps
10. Attach a pair of legs to the top of the hook shank where the Schlappen hackle and Estaz were secured.
11. Secure the legs so that a pair of legs drop on each side of the hook shank. Do not crowd the eye.
12. Clip a section of Artic Fox Fur and measure the length of the fur so that it does not extend past the mid point of the tail.
13. Flip this section of fur around so that it extends in front of the eye and secure the base of the fur with thread wraps behind the eye.
14. Bring the fur back over the body and secure with additional thread wraps, finishing with a whip knot.
15. Finished back hook.
16. Attach a second hook to the vise and insert a section of 25 lb. Mono through the eye of the back hook. Attach a glass bead through both ends of the mono to create a loop.
17. Attach both ends of the monoline to the top of the hook shank. Ssecure with thread wraps.
18. Apply some superglue to the wraps.
19. Do the same procedures as the back hook sans the tail. Attach the Estaz and Schlappem hackle to the bend of the hook..
20. Wrap the Estaz forward to the 1/4 point of the shank
21.Check the sculpin head for fit so that the eye of the hook extends fully out from the head.
22. Palmer the Schlappen forward to the 1/4 mark. Add a couple of wraps of the Schlappen at the 1/4 mark and secure with thread wraps. Trim off the tag end of the Schlappen.
23. Attach a pair of legs to the top of the hook shank where the Schlappen hackle and Estaz were secured.
24. Check again that the skullhead will fit easily with the hook eye extended beyond the head.
25. Flip the hook and clip a section of Artic Fox Fur and measure the length of the fur so that it extends just past the bead.
26. Attach the fur so that it extends in front of the eye and secure the base of the fur with thread wraps behind the eye. Bring the fur back over the body and secure with additional thread wraps, finishing with a whip knot.
27. Bring the fur back over the body and secure with additional thread wraps.
28. Add Light Olive Nymph Dubbing behind the eye with some figure eight wraps.
29. Whip Finish.
30. Apply Super Glue.
31. Fit the Sculpin head so that the eye of the hook extends full out from the head..
32. The Finished Headbanger.
| Materials
to Order Material, click the link |
|
|---|---|
| Rear Hook | |
| Hook | Gamakatsu B10S, #6 |
| Thread | Veevus 10/0 Black |
| Tail | Black and Olive Marabou |
| Body | Pearl Olive Estaz Chenille , palmered with Black Schlappen Hackle |
| Legs | Crazy Legs, Olive/Black Flake |
| Overwing | Arctic Fox Body Fur, Olive |
| Connector | 25 lb. Mono with Orange Glass Bead |
| Front Hook | |
| Hook | Gamakatsu B10S, #6 |
| Thread | Veevus 10/0 Black |
| Head | Olive Sculpin Helmet, Small |
| Eyes | Pearl Adhesive Eyes |
| Body | Pearl Olive Estaz Chenille , palmered with Black Schlappen Hackle |
| Legs | Crazy Legs, Olive/Black Flake |
| Overwing | Arctic Fox Body Fur, Olive |
| Collar | Light Olive Mottled Nymph Blend |
Rich Strolis
Headbanger Sculpin
Originated by Rich Strolis in 2012 utilizing the sculpin helmet and tied articulated. According to Rich, “This guy gets down and drums up nice fish. This fly is best fished with a stout leader on a floating line. Be sure to open up your casting stroke or else you will be seeing stars, hence the name. Well, it also kinda looks like the lead singer from an 80’s rock band…..”
Mini Headbanger
The pattern can also be tied on a single hook, known as a Mini Headbanger.Good patterns aren’t good by chance. They are well thought out ideas that come together over time – sometimes very little time, and others with a great deal of refinement. In short, once I have devised something a little different, it not only has to accomplish the task at hand – whether it matches a specific hatch, moves a certain way in the water column, or is tied in a manner that it is fished in a specific part of the water column – but most importantly, it’s gotta catch fish.(Strolis-Troutbitten Jan 7 2016).
Rich Strolis came out with a great book in 2016 on how to tie his patterns and how to fish them, you can purchase a signed copy athttp://www.catchingshadows.com
Variations
Mini Headbanger Sculpin, Olive
| Hook | Gamakatsu B10S, #8 |
| Thread | Veevus 10/0 Black |
| Head | Olive Sculpin Helmet, Small |
| Eyes | Pearl Adhesive Eyes |
| Body | Pearl Olive Estaz Chenille , palmered with Black Schlappen Hackle |
| Legs | Crazy Legs, Olive/Black Flake |
| Tail | Black and Olive Marabou |
| Collar | Light Olive Mottled Nymph Blend |
Headbanger Sculpin, Black
| Rear Hook | |
| Hook | Gamakatsu B10S, #6 |
| Thread | Veevus 10/0 Black |
| Tail | Black Marabou with Black Krystalflash |
| Body | Black Estaz Chenille , palmered with Black Schlappen Hackle |
| Legs | Crazy Legs, Black/Red Flake |
| Connector | 25 lb. Mono with Blue Glass Bead |
| Front Hook | |
| Hook | Gamakatsu B10S, #6 |
| Thread | Veevus 10/0 Black |
| Head | Black Sculpin Helmet, Small |
| Eyes | Red Adhesive Eyes |
| Body | Black Estaz Chenille , palmered with Black Schlappen Hackle |
| Legs | Crazy Legs, Black/Red Flake |
| Overwing | Arctic Fox Body Fur, Black |
| Collar | Senyo's Laser Dub, Black |
Headbanger Sculpin, Tan/Ginger
| Rear Hook | |
| Hook | Gamakatsu B10S, #6 |
| Thread | Veevus 10/0 Light Cahill |
| Tail | Ginger Marabou with Speckled Flashabou, Copper |
| Body | Pearl Olive Estaz Chenille , palmered with Tan Schlappen Hackle |
| Legs | Life Flex, Ginger |
| Connector | 25 lb. Mono with Amber Glass Bead |
| Front Hook | |
| Hook | Gamakatsu B10S, #6 |
| Thread | Veevus 10/0 Light Cahill |
| Head | Brown Sculpin Helmet, Small |
| Eyes | Pearl Adhesive Eyes |
| Body | Pearl Olive Estaz Chenille , palmered with Tan Schlappen Hackle |
| Legs | Life Flex, Ginger |
| Overwing | Arctic Fox Body Fur, Tan |
| Collar | Senyo's Laser Dub, Cinnamon |