Beauchene Bug

A strange combination of feathers and chenille, this streamer is popular at La Reserve Beauchene. I've used it there and elsewhere and it catches fish consistently. It's a weighted fly and fished as a streamer, I think it imitates a combination of minnow on the retrieve and a dragonfly nymph on the drift.

Materials

• Hook -Streamer size 4-10
• Thread - black 6/0 Uni
• Golden Pheasant Tippet
• Chenille, any color. I like green, yellow or red
• Mallard flank

1. Prepare the hook shank and apply 1015 wraps of lead wire to make the fly sink well.

2. As a tail tie in one golden pheasant tippet. It should extend about 1/3rd of the hook length past the hook bend. Trim off the excess feather.

3. Tie in a length of chenille.

4. Wrap the chenille forward making touching turns but do not overlap. I like thicker chenille for this fly to give it a bit of bulk.

5. Trim one mallard flank feather to the length of the fly including the tail. Tie this in directly on top of the fly.

6. Trim a second feather the same length and tie this in on the side. Repeat this with a third feather and tie it in on the opposite side.

7. Form a substantial head with the thread, whip finish and apply a coat of head cement.

The finished Beauchene bug.