Bead Head Fullback

The Halfback and Fullback Flies
My first encounter with these two flies was in the late 1970s when I was working in Casper, Wyoming. While working there I fished the Trappers Route Section of the North Platte River a minimum of 2 to 3 times a week. These two patterns along with my Trappers Route Special (an adaptation of a Platte River Special) and my Trappers Route Muddler accounted for approximately 90% of the fish caught.
The following is excerpted from the article; The Halfback and The Fullback by Nathan Winter Streeter in Fly Tyer Magazine, Volume Four Issue Two, August 1981.
The Halfback and Fullback are two of the best trout flies for fishing in the Rocky Mountain Region od the United States. They have proven effective in all types of fishing situations from catching creek chubs in warm, still creeks to landing ten pound browns in cool rushing rivers. They have been trolled in lakes and fished through ice, but the running trout streams are their homes. They should be a part of every trout fisherman's fly box. ~ Nathan Streeter

I added the bead a few years back and it didn't effect the pattern negatively. Not sure if it is a "real" improvement or not but it works good for me. ~LoJ


Bead Head Fullback
By Larry O Jurgens
Source: A Nathan Streeter Fullback Adaptation
Hook: TMC 3769
Size: 6 ~ 18
Thread: Dark Brown 6/0 UNI Thread Tail: Pheasant Tail Barbs
Rib: Green Ultra Wire
Body Peacock Herl
Hackle: Brown Whiting Saddle
Shell Back: Pheasant Tail Barbs
Head: Black Tungsten or Metal Bead
Tying Instructions
1 -- Slide the bead onto the hook shank. Bead size is tyers choice.
2 -- Wrap a thread base behind the hook eye that is tight to the bead. Whip finish and cut off.
---- Optional; Coat these thread wraps with Super Glue or Head Cement
3 -- Slide the bead onto the “bead” threadbase.
4 -- Start the thread behind the bead and wrap a thread base to above the hook point.
5 -- Tie in the tail and shellback material. The tail should equal the body length.
6 -- Fold the barbules back and overwrap with thread to above the hook barb.
7 -- Tie in the hackle feather, rib wire and 4 ~ 10 Peacock herls.
---- Tyers Note: The body on this pattern should be thick and short.
8 -- Return the thread to behind the bead.
9 -- Wrap the Peacock herls with the rib wire creating a Peacock herl rope.
10 -- Wrap the Peacock herl rope to behind the bead. Tie in and cut off excess.
11 -- Palmer wrap the hackle to behind the bead. Tie in and cut off excess.
12 -- Cut the hackle fibers even with the peacock herl body on the top of the hook shank.
13 -- Pull the shellback material over the body. Tie in and cut off excess.
14 -- Whip finish behind the bead with a minimum number of wraps.