John Satkowski, Toledo, OH, fly tying demonstrator and instructor, https://www.instagram.com/johnsatkowski/
Hook selection and shank placement are the secret weapons behind every great articulated streamer.
Satkowski’s Flank Steak fly brings them together in a design that’s as beautiful as it is effective. Whether you’re chasing trophy trout or building your tying skills, our blog breaks it all down in easy-to-follow steps.
Hook selection and shank placement are the secret weapons behind every great articulated streamer.
Materials List for this Articulated Streamer:
Thread: Uni thread 6/0
Back Hook- Gamakatsu B10S, size to match prey imitation
Tail: Marabou
Body: Cascade Crest Mirror Wrap or Hackle Flash
Flash: Mirage Flashabou
Articulation: Your favorite bead wire and 2 3D beads
Front Hook Gamakatsu B10S one size larger than back hook
Tail: Marabou
Body: Cascade Crest Mirror Wrap or Hackle Flash
Rubber Legs: Multi-color Silicon Legs
Head: Senyo’s Laser Dub darker color
Throat: Senyo’s Laser Dub lighter color
Topping: Mallard Flank Feather
Flash: Mirage Flashabou
Accents: Ripple Ice fibers
Eyes: Any 3d eyes to match the fly
Weight: several wraps of 0.025 lead wire
Adhesive: Gulff UV Resin
Tying Steps:
- Attach thread and tie one marabou plume as long as the hook shank, be sure to remove the tip of the marabou feather to create a properly shaped tail.
- Tie in 3-4 strands of Mirage Flashabou on each side of the marabou and trim them just slightly longer than the tail.
- Tie in a strand of mirror wrap and palmer tightly up the shank to near the eye of the hook, sweeping the fibers back after each wrap.
- Tie down and clip the excess mirror wrap and create a neat head and whip finish.
- Apply a light coat of UV resin on the thread and cure it with a UV light.
- Put the front hook in the vise and attach a thread base.
- Wrap five to six wraps (or more for faster water) of lead wire on the hook and cover with thread to secure.
- Tie down the articulation wire and slide on two beads, put the wire through the back hook eye and slide it through the beads again and tie down leaving a little space for the back hook to swing freely.
- Prepare another marabou plume by removing the fluff at the base and the tip and tie in making the end of the tail line up to the first third of the back hook.
- Grab another 3-4 strands of mirage flashabou and tie in on each side of the marabou clipping them slightly longer than the marabou tail.
- Tie in a length of mirror wrap and palmer tightly while sweeping the fibers back after each turn up the hook leaving enough space to tie in the head.
- Grab a small pinch of ripple ice fibers and tie in so they act as a lateral line on each side of the fly.
- Tie in three rubber legs on each side of the fly and clip them even with the marabou tail.
- Take a small clump of the darker laser dub and tie in the middle of the clump on the top of the hook. Do the same with the lighter color on the bottom of the hook.
- Pull both the clumps of laser dub over themselves and tie in a neat little bullet head, we want a wider profile so the tighter the better and then brush thoroughly to remove the loose fibers.
- Pick a mallard flank feather and tie it over the top of the fly making sure it is even and straight on the back, clip the excess stem and create a neat, little head of thread and whip finish.
- Glue eyes on both sides directly over the bullet head and once dry coat the eyes and thread with a thin layer of uv resin and cure.
Fishing and Color Scheme Notes
I usually fish this with a floating line when the water is lower in the late summer months, they are especially effective when you want to imitate a wide-bodied prey item such as shad or sunfish. I cast out and erratically retrieve the fly in short three or four inch strips and then let the fly pause for a bit. The tail will really sway and wag in the current, and the flash and legs really gets the fish to target the fly aggressively. In the late summer shad will move into my local river and the bite is on. I have included my favorite colors for the Flank Steak, tie some and go whack some fish.
Suggested Colors:
- Orange and brown (crayfish)
- White and gray (shad)
- Olive and orange (sunfish)
- Tan/Gold and white (baitfish)
- Blurple (clear water applications)
- Link to this Blog
