I just finished tying an old-time pattern called the Spruce, also known as the Spruce Fly, one of many wonderful patterns featured in a favorite book called Streamers and Bucktails: The Big Fish Flies, by Joseph D. Bates, Jr. This steamer originated around 1918 in the vise of Albert Godfrey and was designed for sea-run cutthroats. Over a hundred years later, the Spruce has swum into the mouths of every freshwater game fish imaginable. It’s an easy pattern to construct.
Begin by placing a down-eye size 8 4X-long heavy-wire hook into the vise. Attach 6/0 black thread a little behind the eye, leaving some bare hook there, then cover the shank back to the hook bend. For the tail, select four or five peacock sword fibers, trim them away from the stem, and tie them in at the bend, tips pointing back and extending about a hook gap’s length beyond the hook.
The body will be about one-third red floss and two-thirds peacock herl. Advance the thread a little more than one-third of the way toward the eye, attach a strand of red floss, and smoothly wrap it back to the tail, then forward again, then partway back, then forward, repeating with more turns at the front until you form a taper. Tie off the floss and trim the excess. Advance the thread to the point a little behind the eye, again leaving some bare hook, and tie in about four strands of herl. Carefully twist the strands together and wrap them back to the floss, then forward again to the spot the a little behind the eye. Tie off and snip away the excess herl.
The wing and throat are made with badger hackle. The black stripe running down the center makes for quite a striking look. Select two matching hackles for the wing. Tie them in flat against each other, dull sides together, although originally they were splayed. The wing should extend about a hook length beyond the bend. Make certain that the stems rest on top of the hook shank and don’t roll to the sides. This takes a little practice. Snip away the excess stems. The wing is finished.
For the throat, choose another badger hackle, secure the stem just behind the eye, and wrap several turns forward to the eye. Snip away the excess and finish the head with a whip finish and varnish. You’re done.
The Spruce pattern can be used as a platform on which you can substitute different materials to suit your fancy. Many other feathers can be used for the wing, and I often change the color of the floss. I fish the Spruce in all kinds of waters, lakes, ponds, and rivers, with great success. The fish can’t seem to resist this simple baitfish pattern. Fish it near the surface on a floating line or swing it down deep with a sink-tip line, and you won’t be disappointed.
— Andy Guibord
