The articulated paddler!

A streamer that has been in the back of my mind for quite some times now. We see wiggle /curly tails everywhere these days but never a paddle tail...And if you ever fished with rubber shads, you know how effective they can be! When you lure fish, there is days where fish are not interested in curly tails at all, switch for a shad with a paddle and you start getting bites.This is mostly due to the vibrations created in the water, and how it's perceived by the pike and it's lateral line. When you lure fish, that change is easily made, just pick a different lure from your box, but when fly fishing, paddle tails are non existant.

 This has now changed, Pat Cohen and Hareline have now cracked it and are selling these tails for flyfishing and they look fantastic! They are called Swim tails and are available in 3 sizes. I think they will be soon widely available from any good Hareline stockists. They should soon be for sale i guess on Pat's website if you want to purchase some: https://rusuperfly.com

But anyone that knows me by now should know that i like making things if possible instead of buying ready made stuff. I have been using faux suede for a few years now to make all sorts of tails & fins. So i tried to find a way to make some paddle tails...My design is slightly different . If you look at the "stem" of the tail its position is flat/horizontal compared to the commercially available ones where the 'stem" is vertical. At first i taught that my way would not paddle as well, so to counteract this i made the paddle larger and once the faux suede gets wet it's very supple and moves really well. I will put some swimming action on my Instagram as soon as i can film them in action. First trials have been very encouraging and the pikes are liking the action with good positive takes.

So let's go and have a look on how i make these tails and the finished streamer:

• First for the tail is to make the stem, simple just one length of faux suede about 8 cm to 10 cm long and 6 to 8 mm wide.

• Then a small length of about 10mm long and the same width as the stem: 

• Superglue the two forming a "Y" as a base to glue the paddle

• Now for the paddle, cut a square 20mm x 20mm and shape it into a paddle

• Just have to glue the paddle on the stem , make sure the stem is connected at the top of the paddle, not lower to achieve the best action 

Job done! just and some colours now and it's ready to be connected to your hook.

Next finishing the fly.

Cactus chenille XL

Congo hair, top and bottom

Yellow congo hair on the side for the pectoral fins (or different colour depending on what you are tying)

Fold over, brush whip finish, glue and add a 25mm shank

More chenille for the gills

I like to put some foam at this stage to balance the fly and for a good base to glue the head on.

Glue on the head now, i love the heads from Spawn flyfish !!

www.spawnflyfish.com 

JOB DONE!!