How to Tie the Meat Whistle Streamer: A Versatile Pattern for Any Situation

Fly Tying

Apr 20

The Meat Whistle Streamer is a highly functional and adaptable fly pattern, perfect for dredging deeper pools and hammering the banks in any situation. Whether you're fishing in Patagonia or closer to home, this pattern is sure to get the job done.

Materials:

Size 2 Mustad Jig Hook
Copper Colored Tungsten Cone Head
Rusty Brown Rabbit Zonker Strip
Rusty Brown UTC 140 Denier Thread
Copper Brown Pearl Sparkle Braid
2 Strands of Copper Colored Flashabou
2 Full-Length Pumpkin Bard Silly Legs
Grizzly Saddle Hackle (Brown)
UV Cure Resin
Spring-Loaded Hair Clip

How to Tie the Meat Whistle Streamer

Step 1: Secure the Hook and Cone Head

Start by placing the size 2 Mustad jig hook in your vise and securing it firmly. Insert the copper-colored tungsten cone head onto the hook, placing the hook point into the small hole at the back of the cone. Secure it tightly in the vise.

Step 2: Create the Tail

Using a rusty brown rabbit zonker strip, measure it to be approximately the length of the hook shank for the tail. Trim the strip to size and secure it to the underside of the hook with a few wraps of thread. Make sure the fur is angling rearward.

Step 3: Add the Sparkle Braid

Take a length of copper brown pearl sparkle braid and secure it at the back of the hook with tight wraps. Wrap the braid forward to the start of the cone and create even, touching wraps to cover the hook shank. Secure the braid with a few more wraps and trim off any excess.

Step 4: Attach the Flashabou

Take two strands of copper-colored Flashabou and find the midpoint. Secure them to the near side of the hook with a few tight wraps of thread. Then, repeat on the far side of the hook, making sure to spread the strands evenly.

Step 5: Add Silly Legs

Take two full-length pieces of pumpkin bard silly legs. Secure them by the midpoint to the near side of the hook, then repeat on the far side. A spring-loaded hair clip can help corral any unruly strands while you work.

Step 6: Tie in the Hackle

Select a grizzly saddle hackle feather in brown, stripping off the lower fibers to expose the stem. Tie it in with the shiny side facing you on the near side of the hook. Create a small triangular tie-in anchor, then advance your thread to the back edge of the cone. Fold the hackle and take touching wraps forward up the hook shank. Secure the hackle and trim off the excess.

Step 7: Secure the Cone and Resin

Push the cone head backward, ensuring the hackle is angled rearward. Build a thread dam to hold the cone in place. Instead of a whip finish, apply a small drop of UV resin to the thread wraps and cure it with UV light. Once the resin is hardened, trim the tag end of the thread off.

Step 8: Final Touches

After removing the hair clip, allow the Flashabou and silly legs to drop naturally beneath the fly. Trim the legs to match the length of the tail for a balanced look.

Fly Tying