History:
In late October 1989 I was off to visit an old fishing buddy, Jim Ismond and
wife Kathy, of Northland Steelhead Lodge on the Bulkley River. Conditions
in late October may not be the best, with fall freshets coloring the water and
falling temperatures making the fish more lethargic, so I wanted a fly that
would come through for me if I was presented with the worst of conditions.
I wanted a fly that would be in front of their noses on every cast so it had to
be moderately weighted and darker in color to show up in turbit water.
Several modified
versions of known patterns were tied but I kept coming back to two known
producers, the Black Leech and the Muddler Minnow. So I thought, why not
combine the best features of the two and dress up the end result. The
Bulkley Bastard was created.
This fly has been
fished with great success over the years and I now use it as my only wet fly for
steelhead. It is fished as a mine sweeper to see what the dry fly has
missed on my favorite waters.
HOW TO TIE "THE BULKLEY BASTARD"
1. Double wrap hook with tying thread and cement base.
2. Lay fine lead wire along the length of the hook to the shank, tie down
and then wrap the lead wire forward from the shank to the thorax.
3. Tie on the tail and then the edge bright ribbing.
4. With the tying thread at the tail section, slide a Mylar sleeve over
the head of the fly and anchor at the tail section. Then work the thread
forward to the thorax to give the Mylar sleeve a ribbed body.
5. Wrap edge bright ribbing in place and anchor.
6. At the thorax place a small drop of cement and anchor down a small tuff
of black bear hair. Be sure to remove all fine hair before cementing.
7. Cut 6 - 8 small pieces of Krystal Flash the length of the black bear
hair and anchor down over the black bear hair.
8. Select a small tuff of black marabou and tie over the Krystal Flash.
9. Add another 6 to 8 pieces of Krystal Flash.
10. Add another drop of cement and then cut a plug of elk hair making sure
to remove all fin hairs. Tie down, making sure to leave about 1/4 inch at
the head of the hair so it will stand up to start the head of the fly.
11. Spin on more short pieces of elk hair to form the head.
12. Whip finish the head and with scissors shape the head.
Additional information: The black bear hair will lift
the marabou off the body of the fly and let the marabou react to the currents in
the river. The Krystal Flash gives life to the fly and adds depth when
looking into the fly. The elk hair gives more depth to the fly and acts as
a shell to protect the soft marabou.
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