#29-2013 - Improved Governor Aiken

Tied by: Jon Harrang
Originated by: unknown

Hook: Alec Jackson Blind Eye spey hook #6 8xl
Thread: Black Benecchi 12/0
Tag: Silver oval tinsel
Tail: 2 slim matching sections of barred wood duck flank
Body: Silver flat tinsel
Rib: Silver oval tinsel
Belly: White bucktail
Throat: Golden pheasant crest dyed red
Wing: Lavender and or purple bucktail over, followed by 5-6 strands of peacock herl (optional) and 2 badger hackles dyed lavender on each side of wing at top
Eyes: Jungle cock nail
Head: Black

Notes: The original pattern was named in honor of Governor George D. Aiken of Vermont and has enjoyed some fame as a productive trolling streamer in Canada and the Northeast United States. When Jon dressed the Governor Aiken fly as described in the books, he felt it lacked appeal. Jon decided to spice up the pattern by adding lavender dyed badger hackle feathers on each side of the wing. He grappled with calling the classic pattern "Improved", but the added visual enhancements, most notably the strong black lines of the hackle, do indeed create a more imitative minnow impression. The added material in the wing also helps to stabilize the streamer as it swims in fast currents, and it is easier to set the hackle tip wings correctly with the underwing of bucktail in place. The blind-eye Alec Jackson spey fly hook was purposely chosen in order to give the fly more of a west-coast steelhead twist. Jon has also dressed the pattern using a silver Alec Jackson spey fly hook and it looks great, Jon suggests he likes it better than the black hook. Jon has hopes to swing this improved version through some favorite steelhead runs sooner rather than later!