Orange is a great color to use in fall because it imitates both the brilliant colors of brook trout, as well as a variety of insects, including the October caddis. The Wood Special was invented by Maine fly tier Joe Sterling the late 1960s, and it has been a popular brook-trout and landlocked-salmon pattern ever since. Many anglers, including Tim Flagler of Tightline Productions, believe that the curved wing that lies against the body creates a profile that fish can’t resist.
In this excellent video, Tim demonstrates his method for tying the Wood Special, which is fairly simple to create. The ways in which Tim prepares the feathers before tying them in really help to achieve a nice, clean silhouette, and it ensures that there aren’t a lot of fibers sticking out in odd directions.
Wood Special
Hook: 4X-long streamer hook (here, a Dai-Riki #700), size 8.
Thread: Black, 8/0 or 70-denier.
Rib:: Gold/silver Mylar tinsel, small.
Tail: Golden pheasant crest tippets.
Body: Fluorescent orange Ultra Chenille, medium.
Wing: Wood duck flank feather.
Hackle: Grizzly hen feather.
Head: Tying thread.
Adhesive: UV-cure resin.
Tools: Bodkin.
