The Cat's Whisker is probably the most consistantly succesful lure for the still water angler. Born in the 1980's and has gone on to spawn many variants.
This one being unweighted is better fished on an intermediate or sinking line but can still catch on a floater.
Weight can be added in many ways including lead wire, bead head or chainbead eyes.
The tools required for this pattern are few, A vice,bobbin holder,scissors and a whip finish tool.
The Cats Whisker
Materials
Thread: Red utc or similar
Tail and Wing: White marabou
Body: Chartruese chenille
1. Wind thread to the hook bend and catch in a bunch of White Marabou.
Tie in the Marabou along the length of the hook to ensure an even base for the chenille.(Remember to leave enough space in front of the eye to tie in the wing and form a head)
2. Take a length of Chennile and strip off a short section of the chennile using your thumbnail to leave the core as shown.
3. Wind the chenille forward toward the eye in touching turns, remembering to leave space for the formation of the head, and catch in with three turns of thread and trim.
4. Select another bunch of Marabou and offer up to the head of the flie with your thumb and forefinger and catch in with three turns of thread and trim off at a sloping angle from the eye.
( It may take a bit of practice to get the tension right when tying in the wing)
5. Create a head with turns of thread, whip finish and varnish the head.Finish the fly by grippng the wing and tail in your thumb and fore finger and the required length and pinch the marabou to length,
this will give a nice uneven edge.
This lure has spawned probably more variants than any other I have come across. Try varying the colours or materials, add jungle cock cheeks for a very effective variant, the choice is yours.
Like many of the most effective patterns the Cats Whisker is one of the simplest to tie. Experiment and let us know how you get on.
