Black Bear Green Butt
The Black Bear Green Butt is a traditional Atlantic salmon hairwing fly that is also widely used for steelhead and occasionally large trout. It developed from the original all-black Black Bear, generally credited to Maine fly tyer Harry Smith in the 1920s, while the green-butt variation is often associated with Charles Conrad. The fly is normally fished on a controlled swing across and downstream, with larger versions useful in high or stained water and smaller, more sparsely dressed flies effective under clear summer conditions. Its dark profile and fluorescent green butt make it a dependable searching pattern when salmon are not responding to brighter flies. The main tying considerations are maintaining a slim body, reinforcing the rib, and keeping the dark hair wing sparse and properly aligned.
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Recipe
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Hook · standard salmon streamer hook sizes 4 - 8
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Thread · black
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Tag · flat silver tinsel
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Tail · black hackle fibers
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Butt · fluorescent green floss
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Rib · oval silver tinsel
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Body · black wool yarn
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Wings · black bear hair
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Hackle · black hen or soft rooster tied beard style