Fly Tying of Jon Bates

Jon has caught my eye with his extremely well tied hairwing streamers that really deserve a closer look. I had Jon send me some recipes on some of his flies and also tell us a little about himself and the hairwing streamers that he loves to tie. The first fly below called the Central Stoneroller Hairwing is of Jon’s own design and mimics a freshwater fish of the same name. Also, the Brook Trout streamer is also Jon’s own design. You can follow Jon’s tying on Instagram @grayfox.flyfishing.
-Paul

I am from a little coal town in Central Pa. I started tying in my early high school years, had a 16 year hiatus from the sport and got back into tying and fishing 4 years ago. Hairwings seemed to have pulled me into a certain direction with my tying and have become my favorite and most enjoyable style to work with.

Out of the group classified as hairwings, squirrel tail is my preferred wing material. In my opinion it gives the most natural appearance in the water as it starts dark and lightens at the tips just as a natural baitfish. For the beginner a natural tail can yield many flies and just subtle changes to the tail, throat, and body can mimic many different forage fish. Dyed squirrel can really add some pop to your patterns and help expand your arsenal and there are many great colors offered.

Central Stoneroller Hairwing
Hook: Partridge D4AF size4
Thread: Danville 6/0 black
Tail: tan turkey flat
Body: Northern lights silver hot white flash
Throat: cream turkey flat over yellow Grizzly collar hackle
Wing: black/fox squirrel tail blended
Eyes: acrylic paint
UV: Bone Dry

Playboy Silver from Abu Optic Flies
Hook: Partridge D4AF size 4
Thread: Danville 6/0 black
Tail: red turkey flat
Body: Northern lights Silver hot white flash
Throat: orange turkey flat
Wing: black squirrel tail
Topping: peacock herl
Eyes: acrylic paint
UV: Solarez Bone Dry

Pin Up Red from Abu Optic Flies
Hook: Partridge Sproat Wet size 2
Thread: Danville 6/0 black
Tail: Golden Pheasant tippet
Body: red 4 strand floss
Rib: small copper wire
Throat: Speckled Hen
Underwing: 4 strands Wing and Flash
Wing: Gray squirrel tail
Topping: peacock herl
Eyes: acrylic paint

Liggett Special Hairwing
Hook: Sprite S1800 size 6
Thread: Danville 6/0 Black
Body: Northern lights silver hot white
Throat: white turkey flat
Wing: yellow over red squirrel tail
Topping: peacock herl
Eyes: acrylic paint
UV: Solarez Bone Dry

Brook Trout Hairwing
Hook: Sprite S1800 Size 6
Thread: Danville 6/0 black
Tail: Lemon Wood Duck
Rib: medium gold tinsel
Body: orange floss
Throat: lemon wood duck
Wing: gray squirrel over red/blue(blended) squirrel tail
Topping: peacock herl
Eyes: acrylic paint

Blue Smelt
Hook: Partridge Heritage 7xl
Thread: Danville 6/0 white
Tail: red floss
Body: Northern lights silver hot white flash
Throat: white turkey flat
Wing: blue squirrel tail over badger
Topping: peacock herl
Eyes: acrylic paint