Cate's Turkey (Revised)

There is nothing I hate more than a tier calling for an "improved" version of an original.  Let's face it, a pattern that has been around for five or more decades has met the test of time.  Wouldn't it be hard to "improve" upon an original?  You betcha!  Why not call it a "revised" version? After all when tying with newer materials that's what we are doing..  revising the original.

The late Jerry Cate devised this very simple callibaetis pattern for Oregon's southern Cascade Range in the 1960's. However, you'll find this fly effective just about anywhere baetis are found. In smaller sizes I imagine fish will also take Cate's Turkey for midges. 

I usually tie this pattern with a bead, either tungsten or glass, and fish longer leaders for our Northwest lowland lakes, but occasionally tie one on as a dropper in the rivers, too. 

If you are having trouble finding quality turkey tails, a good substitution is pheasant tail fibers.

Simple is deadly! 

Materials: 

Hook: TMC 2499, (or any nymph hook), size 12-18 

Bead: (Optional) (pictured 15/0 amber with gold lining) 

Thread: Black (Veevus 14/0 pictured) 

Tail: Lemon duck flank or mallard flank dyed wood duck 

Ribbing: Fine gold wire 

Body: Turkey tail fibers (originally dark mottled turkey tail) or pheasant tail fibers

Thorax: Peacock herl or synthetic peacock  (Ice Dubbing pictured)
Legs:  (Optional) wood duck or dyed mallard.  Skip this step if utilizing synthetic materials

Step 1: 

Pinch barb with vise. Place bead on to hook and secure in vise. Start thread behind bead and wind rearward a few wraps or in line with hook point.  Select 5 to 8 wood duck fibers, align tips, remove from stem and tie in. Tail length is approximately one body length.  

Step 2:

Tie in ribbing with even thread wraps forward to the bead.  Return thread to bead area with even, flat wraps.

Step 3:

Select 2 to 5 turkey tail fibers (depending the hook size), cut tips even and tie in with even rearwards wraps of thread.  Return thread to the bead area and counter wrap turkey fibers forward. Pictured are two turkey tail fibers.  Once wrapped forward, secure with rearward wraps over fibers as shown below and remove butt ends.

Step 4:

Should you decide to utilize natural peacock herl, tie one herl in by the tip and wrap forward.  For synthetic, wrap rib forward in even, segmented spacing as shown and secure.

Step 4:

If utilizing natural peacock herl, wrap rib forward in even, segmented wraps.  Wraps are made through the herl thorax.  Secure

If you decided to use a synthetic dubbing, dub thorax and wind forward as shown.

Step 5:

For a natural peacock herl, tie in 5 to 8 wood duck (or dyed) beard style for legs and whip finish.

Synthetic material requires a drop or two of super glue or head cement to the first inch of thread followed by a whip finish as shown.

Step 5a:

Pick out synthetic thorax and draw material to the rear as shown.  Just add water!

Tight lines!