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LuLu
04-03-2007, 03:51 PM
Voodoo Sparrow

The magazines gods that dropped off the paper fishingporn to my house have been including articles about Go2 Flies, Top Ten Flies, and Must Have Flies which got me thinking. What kind of flies are the best producers and what is in my box.

A Pere Marquette guide, John Kluesing, introduced the Sparrow to me. John had me use the original version in its natural colors. After having great success with that fly over the years, I had to know more. The Sparrow was invented by Jack Gartside and is always a top producer for me. I found this information on Jacks web site http://www.jackgartside.com/ and it shows how he ties it.

http://www.fishingporn.com/blog_images/lulu/fishingporn+002.jpg

Jack Gartside is counted (as) one the most innovative and prolifically inventive fly tyers of the modern era. He got his first fly tying lesson in 1956 from Ted Williams, the great Boston Red Sox outfielder. Ever since he's been tying and fishing, accumulating an extraordinary range of fishing experience in fresh and salt water. He was one of the first fly tyers profiled in Sports Illustrated magazine (Oct. 12, 1982). Jack's best-known original patterns include the Gurgler, Sparrow, Soft Hackle Streamer, and the Gartside Pheasant Hopper.

But I really found my tying style after I bought a video from Bear Andrews. His flies are very innovative, easy to tie and very effective. If you love to tie flies you must purchase his DVDs. His site is http://www.bearandrews.com/. His fly tying videos and DVDs are the inspiration for this fly.

Jeff "Bear" Andrews is the creator of many effective, unique, and attractive fly patterns for trout, steelhead, and salmon. He recently produced the first in a series of fly tying DVDs, and publishes a monthly Michigan Fly Box Article on fly patterns in Michigan Out-of-Doors magazine.

This variation of the Sparrow is what I call the Voodoo Sparrow. Its a hex pattern. Its a pattern that you can tie fast and you won't mind losing it in the logs. The Voodoo Sparrow has a dubbed thorax and eyes in front of the normal Sparrow collar. Simple but effective. Here is a photo and the recipe.

Hook: Daiichi #1710 size 6-14
Thread: Uni-thread 6/0 to match body
Tail: Fluff from base of pheasant rump feather
Body: Spirit River Squirrel Blend Sulphur
Hackle: Pheasant rump
Collar: Aftershaft feather from pheasant rump
Head: Spirit River Squirrel Blend Sulphur, Mono Eyes

http://www.fishingporn.com/blog_images/lulu/fishingporn+005.jpg

alexsalmon
04-03-2007, 03:57 PM
Great first post!!! I have fished sparrows but never really gave them the time they deserved. I will fish one next time I'm out!!!

julius
04-03-2007, 04:17 PM
thats a real nice pattern. i'll be sure to remember it next time i sit down at the vice:D

TheSteelheadBum
04-03-2007, 05:40 PM
Sweet tie! I have very little experience with sparrow's but am definitely going to have to give that pattern a go this summer.

tommytubular
04-04-2007, 10:09 AM
might as well get my first post out of the way too...

sparrows accounted for several hook ups over the last weekend...olive and rust were the hot colors. I tie mine the gartside way....but I like the twist of the voodoo sparrow....i'll probably and a few to my fly box