Oil Slick Buzzer

Curtis - May, 2016

It is really hard for me to pass up a chance to fish Chironomids -- especially when fish are actively cruising and picking off the Chironomid pupa as they ascend through the water column. So each year as I refill my buzzer boxes, I usually end up tweaking a few existing patterns or try something altogether new.

A couple of years back, as I was messing with a new (to me) type of flashabou, I realized it was more translucent than some of the other flashabou or tinsel materials I'd tied with before. Then the gears began to turn when I started to wonder how it would look wrapped over different colors of thread or wire. Turns out the thread color didn't matter as much, but the wire sure did.

And when you tightly wrap the flashabou over the wire, it creates a sorta "oil slick" looking reflective translucent effect. So when I needed a name for this pattern, I turned to the fly naming Ninja, Cheech, and that's what stuck.
Cool looking colors aside, what I have now realized after fishing this for a couple of years is that I've caught more fish on this pattern than really any other buzzer (chironomid) pattern I use.

As far as materials go, it's a simple one, but it's important you get the right flashabou (or tinsel if you choose).

Material List
  • Hook: Fulling Mill 5110 Heavyweight Grub Hook Barbless - 12
  • Hook (Alternate): Hanak H 333 BL Czech Nymph Hook - 12
  • Thread #1: UTC Ultrathread 70 Denier - Black
  • Thread #2: UTC Ultrathread 70 Denier - Red
  • Bead: Plummeting Tungsten Beads - Painted Colors - 7/64" (2.8mm) - Jet Black
  • Bead (Alternate #1): Fulling Mill Tungsten Beads - Silver - 2.8 mm
  • Bead (Alternate #2): Firehole Stones Plated Tungsten Beads - Sterling Silver - 3.0mm (1/8")
  • Breathers: Glo-Brite Floss for hot-spots and tags - Fl. White - 16
  • Body: Mirage Tinsel - Opal - Large
  • Ribbing: Semperfli Tying Wire - 0.2 - Red
  • Ribbing (Aternate): UTC Ultra Wire - Brassie Size - Red
  • Wing Pads: Solarez Colored UV Resin - Fl. Orange (137)
  • Wing Case: Solarez Colored UV Resin - Black (11)
  • Quill Coating: Loon Fluorescing UV Clear Fly Finish
  • Materials & Alternate Materials Listed Below
    UTC Ultrathread 70 Denier
    UTC Ultrathread 70 Denier

    UTC Ultrathread 70 Denier

    $2.49
    UTC Ultra Wire
    UTC Ultra Wire

    UTC Ultra Wire - Brassie Size

    $2.49
    Veevus Holographic Tinsel
    Veevus Holographic Tinsel

    Veevus Holographic Tinsel

    $4.49
    Plummeting Tungsten Beads - Painted Colors
    Plummeting Tungsten Beads - Painted Colors

    Plummeting Tungsten Beads - Painted Colors

    $7.90
    Glo-Brite Floss for hot-spots and tags
    Glo-Brite Floss for hot-spots and tags
    Glo-Brite Floss for hot-spots and tags
    Glo-Brite Floss for hot-spots and tags
    Glo-Brite Floss for hot-spots and tags
    Glo-Brite Floss for hot-spots and tags
    Glo-Brite Floss for hot-spots and tags
    Glo-Brite Floss for hot-spots and tags
    Glo-Brite Floss for hot-spots and tags
    Glo-Brite Floss for hot-spots and tags
    Glo-Brite Floss for hot-spots and tags
    Glo-Brite Floss for hot-spots and tags
    Glo-Brite Floss for hot-spots and tags
    Glo-Brite Floss for hot-spots and tags
    Glo-Brite Floss for hot-spots and tags

    Glo-Brite Floss for hot-spots and tags

    $3.75
    Semperfli Tying Wire
    Semperfli Tying Wire
    Semperfli Tying Wire
    Semperfli Tying Wire
    Semperfli Tying Wire
    Semperfli Tying Wire
    Semperfli Tying Wire
    Semperfli Tying Wire
    Semperfli Tying Wire
    Semperfli Tying Wire
    Semperfli Tying Wire
    Semperfli Tying Wire
    Semperfli Tying Wire
    Semperfli Tying Wire
    Semperfli Tying Wire
    Semperfli Tying Wire
    Semperfli Tying Wire
    Semperfli Tying Wire
    Semperfli Tying Wire

    Semperfli Tying Wire

    $4.20
    Firehole Stones Plated Tungsten Beads
    Firehole Stones Plated Tungsten Beads
    Firehole Stones Plated Tungsten Beads
    Firehole Stones Plated Tungsten Beads
    Firehole Stones Plated Tungsten Beads
    Firehole Stones Plated Tungsten Beads
    Firehole Stones Plated Tungsten Beads
    Firehole Stones Plated Tungsten Beads
    Firehole Stones Plated Tungsten Beads
    Firehole Stones Plated Tungsten Beads

    Firehole Stones Plated Tungsten Beads

    $8.65
    Fulling Mill Tungsten Beads
    Fulling Mill Tungsten Beads
    Fulling Mill Tungsten Beads
    Fulling Mill Tungsten Beads
    Fulling Mill Tungsten Beads
    Fulling Mill Tungsten Beads
    Fulling Mill Tungsten Beads
    Fulling Mill Tungsten Beads
    Fulling Mill Tungsten Beads

    Fulling Mill Tungsten Beads

    $7.25
    Mirage Tinsel - Opal
    Mirage Tinsel - Opal

    Mirage Tinsel - Opal

    $1.99
    Para Post Wing Material
    Para Post Wing Material

    Para Post Wing Material

    $3.99
    Loon Fluorescing UV Clear Fly Finish
    Loon Fluorescing UV Clear Fly Finish

    Loon Fluorescing UV Clear Fly Finish

    $19.00
    Solarez Colored UV Resin
    Solarez Colored UV Resin
    Solarez Colored UV Resin

    Solarez Colored UV Resin

    $13.00
    Hanak H 333 BL Czech Nymph Hook
    Hanak H 333 BL Czech Nymph Hook

    Hanak H 333 BL Czech Nymph Hook

    $8.95