Hi Tim. I just found this video today and took a look. The original Barr pattern is more complicated to tie, as you and other comments have indicated, but I agree it’s enough substance and simple to make. Perfect!
Not only being a long time watcher and long time imitator of your videos, but I continue to find wonderful adaptations of your versions. You got me into fly tying and let me enjoy an even deeper appreciation of fly fishing than before. "Long time watcher.....First time caller" Thanks for all your wonderful work! (Also) I like the touch of the "TLV" to the tying supplies.. Great idea for subtly putting your trademark on your amazing tutorials! THANKS AGAIN! (from Montana!)
Tim, Your video inspired me to tie some of these for a spring break fly fishing trip with some friends, one of whom had never landed a fish on a fly before. After two days of floating the river, she was cold and about three casts away from packing up her rod for the day. I’m happy to report that a Barr’s meat whistle I tied for the trip was on the end of her line when she landed her first on a fly- a fat 16” rainbow trout! Just thought you might like to hear what your videos are out doing in the world :)
I think im going to have to make a mini version of one of these whenever I get into tying flies. Looks like it would be great for catching bass and trout.
Also, one variation I like is to substitute the collar (saddle hackle in vid, marabou by J Barr) for 2-3 turns of cross-cut rabbit strip. And again, zap a gap before wrapping the strip increases durability.
Love Barr's flies and this pattern especially. Species caught so far on this fly: bows, browns, cutties, largemouth, smallmouth, carp, catfish (only catfish I've caught on a fly), and some misc trash fish. I will be targeting Bulltrout later this summer and hope to add them to the list too! Play with colors and sizes as already mentioned. I like that you did away with the wire ribbing. Should speed up the process! A touch of zap a gap on the thread base before tying off the zonker makes it bomber! Thanks for the vid!
Another great video. What other colors did you find success with? Size 2 seems to be a great size already, but were there situations you needed to downsize to get takes?
I dont know about him, but I have tremendous success in utah and idaho with this pattern in crawdad orange and olive. I tie mine on size 2 and 4 and use pine squirrel in place of the rabbit. For th we particular lakes I use it on the fish like the slightly smaller profile. I hope this helps answer your question.
The hook will ride point up, thus reducing snags, and because the weight (cone) is below the eye, the fly will have a much more pronounced jigging action than a traditional streamer. Basically this is a streamer meant to be fished deep and slow around structure.
It does!!! Natural grey with black markings zonker with a silver cone, body & flash has been great for smallmouths in the river where chubs are present - my go-to fly for them.
I want to thank you for bringing this fly to my attention. So far this year I've caught a 5lb snakehead, a number of 18-20" smallmouth, and a 24" rainbow on this pattern, with plenty of smaller fish mixed in as well. Chubs, suckers, sunfish, largemouth, and browns have all eaten this for me too. It's truly a fantastic fly. Rust and olive have been my favored colors. It looked like you had a black one at the beginning there, along with one using the weighted baitfish and sculpin heads. Do you tie those on a jig hook as well?
Umpqua makes a jig hook in this style. Just do a quick search online (in the U.S/Canada at least) and you'll find several stores that carry it. I know Cabellas/Bass pro shops has it.
Love this fly Tim. I fish the slump buster all the time and cant wait to add this to the line up. I did have a question tho - how do you rig the fly with the 90 degree hook? I imagine floating line is best given the angle but could this fish on a sinking line too?
Sinking line works very well as does floating. The real key to rigging, in my opinion, is to use a non-slip loop knot to allow the largest possible range of motion for the fly. Also, at the end of a swing, do a slow rod lift, I often get takes or at least chases as the fly rises to the surface.
Though their day I was flyfishing for some brown trout in southeast Kansas and they would only strike at a elk hair caddis (size 12) when stripped below the surface of the water what other patterns I could tie that would work better than. A dry fly being stripped in. Just be low the surface
Hi Tim. I just found this video today and took a look. The original Barr pattern is more complicated to tie, as you and other comments have indicated, but I agree it’s enough substance and simple to make. Perfect!
Great pattern. Great instructions. I've tied flies for fifty years. I learned some new techniques in this video. Thank you.
I was about to tie this fly, based on another video I saw. I'm gonna re-think my approach based on your video. Thanks!
Not only being a long time watcher and long time imitator of your videos, but I continue to find wonderful adaptations of your versions. You got me into fly tying and let me enjoy an even deeper appreciation of fly fishing than before. "Long time watcher.....First time caller" Thanks for all your wonderful work! (Also) I like the touch of the "TLV" to the tying supplies.. Great idea for subtly putting your trademark on your amazing tutorials! THANKS AGAIN! (from Montana!)
Tim,
Your video inspired me to tie some of these for a spring break fly fishing trip with some friends, one of whom had never landed a fish on a fly before. After two days of floating the river, she was cold and about three casts away from packing up her rod for the day.
I’m happy to report that a Barr’s meat whistle I tied for the trip was on the end of her line when she landed her first on a fly- a fat 16” rainbow trout!
Just thought you might like to hear what your videos are out doing in the world :)
Awesome! Thank you, Tim! I've been anxiously waiting for this one since watching you tie it in Marlborough.
Great quick pattern ❤❤❤🎉
Very well done!
You have taught me to tie almost all of the flies i tie! Thanks for the amazing videos!
Same for me
Great bass fly
Also steelhead and great lakes brown's
I think im going to have to make a mini version of one of these whenever I get into tying flies. Looks like it would be great for catching bass and trout.
Also, one variation I like is to substitute the collar (saddle hackle in vid, marabou by J Barr) for 2-3 turns of cross-cut rabbit strip. And again, zap a gap before wrapping the strip increases durability.
without the wire rib doesnt it come apart easily?
Love the vids! Keep it up
awesome stuff!!
Love Barr's flies and this pattern especially. Species caught so far on this fly: bows, browns, cutties, largemouth, smallmouth, carp, catfish (only catfish I've caught on a fly), and some misc trash fish. I will be targeting Bulltrout later this summer and hope to add them to the list too!
Play with colors and sizes as already mentioned. I like that you did away with the wire ribbing. Should speed up the process! A touch of zap a gap on the thread base before tying off the zonker makes it bomber!
Thanks for the vid!
I've gotta tie up a few of these, thanks for the video.
I am going to try this fluorescent orange to mimic ghost shrimp in the surf. Thanks for sharing!
Great mod Tim! Sorry I missed you at the Jersey show.
Another great video. What other colors did you find success with? Size 2 seems to be a great size already, but were there situations you needed to downsize to get takes?
I dont know about him, but I have tremendous success in utah and idaho with this pattern in crawdad orange and olive. I tie mine on size 2 and 4 and use pine squirrel in place of the rabbit. For th we particular lakes I use it on the fish like the slightly smaller profile. I hope this helps answer your question.
I like to use zap-a-gap on the shank before wrapping the braid.Also changing the colour as well.
YEEESSSSSSS! Been wanting you to do this one!
Nice video -- as usual! I have one question. For a chartreuse zonker strip, do you reommend a particular color of grizzly hackle?
Where do u buy your supplies
?
What’s the benefit of the bent up eye versus a traditional streamer hook
-Tommy
The hook will ride point up, thus reducing snags, and because the weight (cone) is below the eye, the fly will have a much more pronounced jigging action than a traditional streamer. Basically this is a streamer meant to be fished deep and slow around structure.
I think that would make a great Smallmouth fly! Thanks
I'm fairly sure that John Barr originally designed as just that.
It does!!! Natural grey with black markings zonker with a silver cone, body & flash has been great for smallmouths in the river where chubs are present - my go-to fly for them.
I want to thank you for bringing this fly to my attention. So far this year I've caught a 5lb snakehead, a number of 18-20" smallmouth, and a 24" rainbow on this pattern, with plenty of smaller fish mixed in as well. Chubs, suckers, sunfish, largemouth, and browns have all eaten this for me too. It's truly a fantastic fly. Rust and olive have been my favored colors. It looked like you had a black one at the beginning there, along with one using the weighted baitfish and sculpin heads. Do you tie those on a jig hook as well?
I can’t seem to find the model hook you have in this video did you get the hooks at Shannon’s or some other place
-Tommy
Umpqua makes a jig hook in this style. Just do a quick search online (in the U.S/Canada at least) and you'll find several stores that carry it. I know Cabellas/Bass pro shops has it.
2:18 Give your fingers a lick and tame that fur before tying it down. Rabbit strips are so much easier to manage when you dampen them just a touch.
Love this fly Tim. I fish the slump buster all the time and cant wait to add this to the line up. I did have a question tho - how do you rig the fly with the 90 degree hook? I imagine floating line is best given the angle but could this fish on a sinking line too?
Sinking line works very well as does floating. The real key to rigging, in my opinion, is to use a non-slip loop knot to allow the largest possible range of motion for the fly. Also, at the end of a swing, do a slow rod lift, I often get takes or at least chases as the fly rises to the surface.
Awesome Tim. That’s very helpful.
New Uv resin and torch?
Ben Harvey ya he went from bondic to solarez but there all very similar stuff
Great pattern and great video! Could you do a Bow River Bugger video?
This is SO MUCH easier than the Barr original!!!!!
I cant help but think a tiny one tied with squirrel strips and a wire underbody would be a great point fly to get a midge down deep in the winter.
can you use a 60 degree jig hook?
Круто получилось, рыбе понравиться.
Though their day I was flyfishing for some brown trout in southeast Kansas and they would only strike at a elk hair caddis (size 12) when stripped below the surface of the water what other patterns I could tie that would work better than. A dry fly being stripped in. Just be low the surface
what happened to the bondic?
You should make a video on how to tie an intruder steelhead fly
How do you make the background for your fly tying videos?
Cameron Newbold I believe it’s a piece of wood normally not sure what type but in recent videos it seems to be something else.
I appreciate how you don't attach your own name to fly patterns when you make a substitution or 2 on the materials
Check the bacón snack ITS amazing streamer