Step-by-Step Tying Instructions — “The Sugar Mama”

Fly Tying

Nov 1

Alright folks, grab your coffee and clear off that tying bench — today we’re diving into a real gem called the Sugar Mama, created by the talented Kesha Atkin, Umpqua’s only female signature fly tier. This fly breaks the mold on jig streamers. Forget the same old squirrel strip look — the Sugar Mama dances through the current with a feather body and just the right touch of flash. Think of it as a mini baitfish with attitude — sleek, shiny, and hungry for attention. It’s a simple tie with a few clever tricks that make it fishy as all get-out. So, let’s get that vise spinning and make some magic happen.

🪶 Step-by-Step Tying Instructions — “The Sugar Mama”

1. Hook & Bead:
Place an Umpqua XC400 jig hook in the vise and slide on a 3/16" copper slotted tungsten bead.

2. Start the Thread:
Use 12/0 white Nano Silk (or 50 denier) and start the thread just behind the bead. Build a short base of thread that ends just above the hook point. Add a light touch of super glue for security.

3. Add the Flash:
Tie in a small clump of mixed UV Pearl and Silver Angel Hair flash near the bead, then fold it back and secure it along the shank. Trim the flash slightly longer than the feather tails — it should shimmer just beyond the tips.

4. Create the Feather Body:
Select two matched white hen saddle feathers. Tie them in one at a time along each side of the hook so they curve inward, forming a flat baitfish profile. Leave the fluff on — it helps bulk up the body naturally.

5. Add the Underbody Veil:
Take a small, well-aligned clump of Seno’s Laser Dubbing (Minnow Belly). Fold it evenly around the hook at the base of the feathers, pinch tight, and tie it down softly before securing. Fold the forward fibers back and brush everything rearward with a dubbing brush to create a smooth, tapered undercollar.

6. Wrap the Mallard Collar:
Select a natural gray mallard flank feather. Strip the fluff, tie it in by the tip just behind the bead, and fold the fibers back to one side. Wrap it 2–3 turns to form a mottled collar. Tie off, trim the stem, and brush the fibers back evenly.

7. Build the Chickaboo Collar (the star move):
Use two spay-grade chickaboo feathers (or mini marabou). Prep them by clamping them in a foam slit or a feather clip so all fibers lay to one side. Place them in a dubbing loop and spin to create a marabou-style collar. Wrap the collar right up to the bead, stroking fibers rearward as you go.

8. Finish the Fly:
Whip finish securely behind the bead, trim your thread, and smooth the collar with a bit of moisture or a brush.

🧵 Sugar Mama Fly Recipe

Hook: Umpqua XC400 Jig Hook, sizes 6–10
Bead: 3/16" Copper Slotted Tungsten Bead
Thread: Semperfli Nano Silk, 12/0 (White, 50 Denier)
Flash: Angel Hair, UV Pearl & Silver mix
Body/Wings: Two matched White Hen Saddle Feathers, curved inward for a slim baitfish profile
Undercollar: Seno’s Laser Dubbing, Minnow Belly color
Middle Collar: Natural Gray Mallard Flank Feather
Final Collar: Spay-Grade Chickaboo Feather, White or Light Gray
Adhesive: Zap-A-Gap or Super Glue (optional for thread base)