I have gotten a ton of requests for this particular pattern in the last couple of years, so I think it is time to finally let the cat out of the bag on the tying sequence for this pattern. I plan on doing both versions, I will save the larger 5” pattern for this fall and give you the smaller 4” variation in today’s video.
If you have heard any of my presentations on streamers in general, or read my book, you will know that I break my streamers into three distinct categories based on how they are constructed and meant to be fished. The crossover category is one that sits between the unweighted/neutrally buoyant swim flies, and the weighted vertical jig style flies that I fish. Crossover streamers are my catch everything else that doesn’t fit into to those two categories; they could be various oddball food forms like crayfish, leeches, frogs or mice or just plain and simple flies with a little bit of weight but not so much that they have an enhanced vertical action when fished. Think Ice Pick, Juggernaut or any other lightly weighted steamer pattern.
The original variation of the Hog Snare was a definite crossover pattern that was a hit at it’s inception. One of the few flies that I have come up with over the years that hit it out of the park shortly after coming to life on my vise after a well thought out sketch. Over time some things were fine tuned with the design, most notably how I tied the heads and collar but I always felt a feathered tail would look a bit more streamlined from the marabou tails of the original. This in essence is truly the only real change to the original recipe but one that makes a much more pleasing design to the eye. The fish don’t mind much either and this fly is still in my rotation to this day; I never leave home without these.
The other biggest changes from the original are trimmed heads, and most importantly the use of pseudo eyes as opposed to lead or tungsten dumbbell eyes. This alone makes this particular pattern drop slowly on the pause so you still get some “hang” when you fish it. These particular flies are some of the funnest to fish especially the larger variety as the movement on these not only entices the fish, but is often mesmerizing to the angler. Whenever I tie one on for a friend or back in the day a client, they often commented on the action of the fly and just how sexy it looked in the water.
As you can already see, there are a bunch of color combos that this fly can be spun up in, and many more if you are willing to experiment. Today, I will tie this in an olive and tan configuration that has been rather effective so far this season, and one that is often overlooked by many. Despite washing out in the water unless you are faced with high sun and clear water, this is one of those workhorse color schemes that although you may not see the fly fully when fished, the results are often undeniable as it puts the fish in the net when the bite is on.