Sucker Spawn

Tying Instructions:

Start the thread at the middle of the hook. If tail is desired, tie in 3-5 strands of Flashabou or Krystal Flash. Cut-off so the tail extends past the bend about as far as the shank length.

1. Cut a piece of yarn for body about 8 inches in length. Separate the strands. Tie-in the end of one strand of yarn at the bend of the hook. Wrap the thread to the eye. Wind the one piece of yard around the hook to the eye, tie off at the eye and cut the end.

2. At the eye, tie in two to four stands of your wing yarn. Cut off the loose ends. The number of strands of yarn you use depends on the size of the hook and the thickness of the yarn. On a size 14 or smaller with heavy thread, two or three strands should work. Hold all the strands along the top of the hook and wind the thread to the bend, tying the strands to the top of the hook.

3. Make a loop with all the pieces of yarn about 1/8 inch above the shank and tie them back to the hook with two wraps slightly ahead on the shank. Make another loop the same size and again tie back to the hook. Alternate this process by laying the yarn first to the far side of the hook, tying the loops on the right and left sides of the hook shank at 90 degree angles. Keep moving forward toward the eye of the hook making loops and tying them to the hook. When you reach the eye with a loop, tie-off and cut the ends of the yarn.

4. Whip finish and lacquer the head.

This pattern is tied in a variety of colors, with cream being the most popular. Try to keep them on the pastel side, pinks, very pale blues, yellows, and greens all work well. There are many varieties. Many do not use any tail. Some use fluorescent thread. A bead head can be added. This is a "heavier" version of this pattern. Some tie it much more sparsely by skipping the single strand wrapped around the hook from the bend to the eye, and some skip the step of tying all the strands along the top of the hook to the bend before starting the loops. The sparsest version is made by just tying in the strands of the yarn at the bend and making the loops to the eye.