#98 - April Snow

Tied by: Ryan Houston
Originated by: Mike Martinek
Source: Rare and Unusual Fly Tying Materials: A Natural History. Volume 1 — Birds; Paul Schmookler and Ingrid Sils, 1999 Pg. 135

Hook: Gaelic Supreme Mike Martinek 8xl #1
Thread: White
Body: Orange floss / silk
Ribbing: Tapered flat silver tinsel
Belly: Yellow then orange bucktail
Throat: A bunch of white schlappen fibers then brown schlappen fibers
Underwing: Golden pheasant crest bending over the hook bend and 4-6 peacock herl then a bunch of white schlappen fibers then brown schlappen fibers
Wing: Burnt orange hackle flanked by orange hackle flanked by medium dun hackle
Cheek: Lavender Guinea fowl
Eye: Jungle cock
Head: Black

Notes: This is a wonderful example of a Mike Martinek streamer using some hard to find lavender guinea hen. The streamer also shows Mike's signature wing structure with the throat built on both the underside and on to to sit between the wing assembly. Ryan did a wonderful job with Mike's streamer.

Late in 2011, one of Mike's originals was put up for auction, here is an except from that sale.

Michael Martinek, Jr (or "Big Mike," as he's often called), has been in the forefront of streamer fly tying for over 30 years. As a matter of fact, he has probably been the one individual responsible for keeping the traditions of Carrie Stevens and other tiers from Maine's Rangeley region alive, and introducing the joys of streamer tying and fishing to the last two generations.

The fly demonstrates the use of a rare hybrid guinea fowl breast feather in the cheek. This streamer was featured on page 135 in the Schmookler/Sils book Rare and Unusual Fly Tying Materials: A Natural History. Volume 1 -- Birds.