The Dinner Bell Kebari



The Dinner Bell Kebari

Winter may be a poor time for fishing but it's a great time for fly tying experimentation. For me, this season is the best time of year to scan fly tying catalogs for interesting materials or older fly fishing literature for ideas.  I prefer using natural materials such as fur and feathers to make up the bulk of any fly...Nature always provides the best materials.  However, sometimes something catches my eye (and eventually, hopefully, a trout's eye).  That was the case when I came across Crystal Skin.  Crystal Skin is a stretchy, gooey, adhesive material used in the body of many types of flies.  Simply cut a strip peel off the backing and wrap it.  The colors I have decided to try were moss green and holographic silver. Both colors are embedded with sparkles of some sort.  I'm hoping it will look something like the late Gary LaFontaine tried with antron fibers in his various caddis patterns.  If is doesn't...Oh well, it will still probably make a decent attractor pattern.  I call this version (with green moss color) "The Dinner Bell Kebari."  I think the sparkle is not over powering but will be seen in a variety of water conditions.  It may "call" the trout like a "dinner bell".  For those interested the recipe and a close up are below.

Dinner Bell Kebari closeup

The Dinner Bell Kebari

Hook: C49S Mustad, scud hook, size #12

Hackle: grey Hungarian partridge

Collar: peacock herl

Thread: Pearsall's gossamer silk thread, highlander green

Rib: fine gold wire

Body: Crystal Skin, thin, moss green