Tying Instructions: Punk Perch

1. Attach the hook to the vice and attach the thread to the midpoint of the hook wrapping to above the point.
Step One
2. Select a plume marabou. You can use either the tip or the side fibers. Use about 30-40 strands of marabou from the quill, keeping the ends even. You may have to make to separate clippings to get enough strands.
Step Two
3. Measure the tips so that they are about the same as the shank length.
Step Three
4. Secure the marabou just above the point with thread wraps and wrap to the bend of the hook.
Step Four
5. Twist the tag end of the marabou and wrap the marabou forward up the shank to the 3/4 position. Step Five
6. Secure with thread wraps at the 3/4 position and trim off the excess.
Step Six
7. Attach a length of fine copper wire for a ribbing to the underside of the shank. Secure the wire with thread wraps to the tail tie-down position.
Step Seven
8. Blend some UV Black with the UV Lt Olive Ice Dubbing. The Lt Olive makes up about 95% of the mix. Apply the dubbing blend to the thread and secure the dubbing to the hook shank with one wrap. Once the dubbing is locked to the hook shank, you can twist the dubbing around the thread to create a noodle. Step Eight
9. Wrap the noodle from the tail tie-in position to the midpoint of the hook shank creating a tapered body. Remove the excess dubbing from the thread as we are going to create a dubbing loop starting at the midpoint of the shank. Step Nine
10. Create a dubbing loop of about 2-3 inches in length. You secure the loop by wrapping the thread around the loop at the shank and then wrap the thread to just behind the eye of the hook. The loop is held open by a dubbing tool such as Cal Bird's dubbing tool or a Griffin Spinning Loop tool.

Step Ten
11. Apply the dubbing blend to the loop and twist the loop, the material closest to the shank will tighten first.
Step Eleven
12. Tighten the loop but do not overtighten. It should be somewhat bulky. Step Twleve
13. Wrap the loop forward to just behind the eye, leaving adequate room for a head. Trim any remaining dubbing and secure with thread wraps.
Step Thirteen
14. Bring the copper wire forward with evenly spaced wraps in a reverse method to counter the dubbing wraps. The ribbing will greatly help to secure the dubbing fibers.
Step Fourteen
15. Secure a piece of red thread and wrap to create a small band at the rear of the head. This will represent the gills of the Punk Perch and is an attraction part of the pattern.
Step Fifteen
16. Secure the red thread with thread wraps from your bobbin and create a small band of black in front of the red band. Whip Finish.
Step Sixteen
17. Then pick out the dubbing with a bodkin. You should get much longer fibers from the front half of the shank. Take a piece of velcro and work the material to blend the material and get it to flow in a backwards sweep. Trim any wayward fibers. Try to get a tapered silouette. The front fibers should be able to extend to the base of the tail.
Step Seventeen
18. Apply a drop of head cement to the head.
Step Eighteen
19. The finished Drifter's Punk Perch. Step Nineteen

©2023 Steve Schalla
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