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The Cascade Prawn - A study in Fly Tying -

Cascade Prawn
by Jack Cook

Emerald City
25 mm Waddington Shank or 1" tube
Thread: Black
Tail: Pearl Flashabou
3 Wraps Fl Silver Dun Marabou
Shell Ringneck Breast, Brown
3 Wraps Chartreuse
4 Wraps Lime Green
2 Wraps Shrimp Orange
4 Wraps Highlander
Shell Ringneck Breast, Brown
2-3 strands Shrimp Orange or Summer Duck Rhea

Purple Haze
25 mm Waddington Shank or 1" tube
Thread: Black
Tail: Pearl Flashabou
3 Wraps Fl Silver Dun Marabou
ShellRingneck Breast, Brown
3 Wraps Gentian Violet
4 Wraps Purple
2 Wraps Shrimp Orange
4 Wraps Dark Lilac
Shell Ringneck Breast, Brown
2-3 strands Shrimp Orange or Summer Duck Rhea

Skagit Sunrise
25 mm Waddington Shank or 1" tube
Thread: Black
Tail: Pearl Flashabou
3 Wraps Fl Silver Dun Marabou
Shell Ringneck Breast, Tan
4 Wraps Hot Pink
5 Wraps Coral
5 Wraps Sunburst
Shell Ringneck Breast, Tan
2-3 strands Shrimp Orange or Summer Duck Rhea

Skagit Sunset
25 mm Waddington Shank or 1" tube
Thread: Black
Tail: Pearl Flashabou
3 Wraps Fl Silver Dun Marabou
Shell Ringneck Breast, Tan
4 Wraps Fl Orange
5 Wraps Orange
5 Wraps Sunburst
Shell Ringneck Breast, Tan
2-3 strands Shrimp Orange or Summer Duck Rhea

Snoqualmie Sapphire
25 mm Waddington Shank or 1" tube
Thread: Black
Tail: Pearl Flashabou
3 Wraps Fl Silver Dun Marabou
Shell Ringneck Breast, Tan
4 Wraps Fl Blue
4 Wraps Caribbean Blue
2 Wraps Black
4 Wraps Blue
Shell Ringneck Breast, Tan
2-3 strands Shrimp Orange or Summer Duck Rhea

Tying the Cascade Prawn

If using a Waddington start by securing the Waddington Shank in the vise and attach the thread near the rear of the shank as shown.

Take the 12-14" length of Fireline and fold it in half. Measure the loop so it is 3.5" from the front of the shank and bind one side of the Fireline to the shank as shown.

Put the Fireline through the loop of the shank, pull it back tight against the tie in point and take three wraps with it around the shank. Do this two more times and tie off the Fireline and secure as shown.

Measure the loop so it is 2.5" from the front of the shank to the end of the loop. Secure the Fireline to the shank where you stopped with the other Fireline end, put it through the eye and repeat as you did on the other side.

To finish up wrap the thread to the back and secure the Fireline to the end of the shank.

At this point put a pencil or something in the loop and test your work, make sure it will not pull out.

Put the hook in the loop.

Tie in a few strands of Pearl Flashabou on each side of the body. Let them trail all the way to the hook in the rear.

Now we start with the marabou. Since we are using subtle color differences to make this pattern look alive in the water we need to start with a base coat. Just like in painting this first layer of light color will allow the following colors to stand out with better detail. All the Cascades start with a layer of Fl Silver Dun. Pull the tip off the feather so you start wrapping where it is big enough to be interesting.

Tie it in with the curved side away from the body. Using a scissor blade run the blade along the top side of the stem to prepare for folding. While holding the feather in your right hand use your left hand to pull fibers which are pointing forward to the rear. While holding them there carefully wrap the feather around the body. This way we do not bind down any fibers with the wrapping. Every time you make a turn around the body pull the fibers to the rear again and make sure none are getting wrapped down. Take 3-4 wraps and tie it off. Notice how neat the marabou looks when you wrap it carefully.

Next we move to the lightest colored marabou. Tie in, fold, and wrap 3-4 turns. Be sure to carefully preen and do not bind down any fibers

Next, attach the rear shellback. Take a feather from the breast of a Ringneck Pheasant. Use your creative license, you cannot go wrong here. Tie in flat on top of the body. Remember on a Waddington the top may be the side toward you.

In this pattern the layers of color start with the lightest at the rear and work their way forward. Depending on the pattern you choose follow the color progression from light to dark and do not forget to carefully fold the marabou as you wrap.

Once you have placed the darkest marabou at the front you tie in a pair of shells tented at 45 degrees around the shank. This keeps the pattern swimming upright in the water.

Having placed the front shells attach 3-4 strands of Rhea on each side of the body and let it dangle all the way to the hook in the rear.

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The Cascade Prawn - A study in Fly Tying -

Text and Photos by Jack Cook 2005 ©