Hart Lake Vixen Lure

Fishing Tips

I have enjoyed the opportunity of living in Prince George on two different occasions. My second stay in this BC working town was in the mid 80s and my interest in fly fishing led me to the Polar Coachmen's, a rather informal group who liked to get together to tie flies, swap fishing stories and yes, to even build fly rods! At these sessions, I learned to tie some interesting northern fly patterns, including the Hart Lake Vixen. One of our mentors was Steve Head who claimed that patterns like the black leech needed a bit of a touch up for the darker waters found in many of the lakes in the vicinity of Prince George.

Creator of this trout fly: Don Haaheim

Tier of this trout fly Type: Don Haaheim

Country of origin for this trout fly: Canada

This trout fly is designed on and fished on Still Water,

Pattern Dressings

Secure your tying thread to the hook shank and tie in a small amount of red kip's tail, allowing it to project about 1/4 inch past the hook bend. My preference is to wind fairly thin mohair, hook bend to eye, or dub in black seal hair in order to give the fly body a somewhat tousled but slim appearance. A chenille body is neater but it does not seem to work quite as well. The first flies that I tied were without ribbing but now I rib the fly with a single strand of green crystal hair. Then tie in about three narrow black hackle feathers near the hook eye so that the feathers flows back in low profile to about 1/2 inch past the hook bend. I usually find that I must tie in these feathers one at a time in order to achieve the proper lie along the back. Finally, place two turns of black hackle at the hook eye, cement, whip finish and you are ready to try the Hart Lake Vixen! Mustad 9672 or 79580 #8 streamer.