The Flank Steak streamer is the creation of J. Stockard Pro Tyer John Satkowski, a man who clearly understands that sometimes the best way to tempt a fish is to wave something shiny and suspicious-looking in front of its face. You can follow John on Instagram here.
This pattern comes into its own during late summer, when water levels drop and fish get picky—or bold, depending on how you look at it. Designed to imitate broad-bodied forage like shad or sunfish, the Flank Steak is most effective when fished on a floating line with a choppy, erratic retrieve. Think three- to four-inch strips followed by a momentary pause—just enough to let the tail do its thing in the current. That swaying, twitchy movement, paired with a touch of flash and a bit of leggy action, is often all it takes to provoke an aggressive response.
When the shad start moving upriver and the late-summer bite kicks off, this is the fly to have tied on. Below are John’s favorite color combos—tie a few and get out there. You might even come back with a story.
Materials
Thread: Uni thread 6/0
Back Hook: Gamakatsu B10S, size to match prey imitation
Tail: Marabou
Body: Cascade Crest Mirror Wrap or Hackle Flash
Flash: Mirage Flashabou
Articulation: Your favorite bead wire and 2 3D beads
Front Hook: Gamakatsu B10S one size larger than back hook
Tail: Marabou
Body: Cascade Crest Mirror Wrap or Hackle Flash
Rubber Legs: Multi-color Silicon Legs
Head: Senyo’s Laser Dub darker color
Throat: Senyo’s Laser Dub lighter color
Topping: Mallard Flank Feather
Flash: Mirage Flashabou
Accents: Ripple Ice fibers
Eyes: Any 3d eyes to match the fly
Weight: several wraps of 0.025 lead wire
Adhesive: Gulff UV Resin
Tying Instructions
Step 1
Attach thread and tie one marabou plume as long as the hook shank, be sure to remove the tip of the marabou feather to create a properly-shaped tail.
Step 2
Tie in 3-4 strands of Mirage Flashabou on each side of the marabou and trim them just slightly longer than the tail.
Step 3
Tie in a strand of mirror wrap and palmer tightly up the shank to near the eye of the hook, sweeping the fibers back after each wrap.
Step 4
Tie down and clip the excess mirror wrap and create a neat head and whip finish.
Step 5
Apply a light coat of UV resin on the thread and cure it with a UV light.
Step 6
Put the front hook in the vise and attach a thread base.
Step 7
Wrap five to six wraps (or more for faster water) of lead wire on the hook and cover with thread to secure.
Step 8
Tie down the articulation wire and slide on two beads, put the wire through the back hook eye and slide it through the beads again and tie down leaving a little space for the back hook to swing freely.
Step 9
Prepare another marabou plume by removing the fluff at the base and the tip and tie in making the end of the tail line up to the first third of the back hook.
Step 10
Grab another 3-4 strands of mirage flashabou and tie in on each side of the marabou clipping them slightly longer than the marabou tail.
Step 11
Tie in a length of mirror wrap and palmer tightly while sweeping the fibers back after each turn up the hook leaving enough space to tie in the head.
Step 12
Grab a small pinch of ripple ice fibers and tie in so they act as a lateral line on each side of the fly.
Step 13
Tie in three rubber legs on each side of the fly and clip them even with the marabou tail.
Step 14
Take a small clump of the darker laser dub and tie in the middle of the clump on the top of the hook. Do the same with the lighter color on the bottom of the hook.
