Lucas Special tantic Salmon Fly
Lucas Special tantic Salmon Fly

Atlantic Salmon Fly, Hairwing, Lucas Special Variant

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in Canada
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Description

The Lucas Special Variant is a bright, high-visibility Atlantic salmon wet fly featuring a chartreuse body, fluorescent blue throat and grey squirrel wing. Chartreuse Krystal Flash and a distinctive fluorescent chenille collar add movement and contrast, making it an effective searching pattern across a range of salmon-water conditions.

Tied in Canada by DcTackle

Pattern History

The Lucas Special is an Atlantic salmon fly associated with a number of different dressings, with variations in materials and construction appearing among tiers and anglers. The pattern is reported to have been created by Perry Thomas and named for his son Lucas, although detailed published documentation of the original dressing is limited.

The DcTackle Lucas Special Variant retains the pattern’s distinctive chartreuse, blue and grey colour combination while using a dressing developed around materials and construction that have proven practical for our salmon flies. A chartreuse floss body is contrasted with gold ribbing, fluorescent blue throat hackle and a grey squirrel-tail wing. Sparse chartreuse Krystal Flash adds movement and visibility, while the fluorescent chartreuse chenille collar gives the fly its particularly recognizable finish.

Rather than presenting this dressing as the definitive original Lucas Special, DcTackle identifies it as a variant, preserving the character of the pattern while documenting the specific version we tie and fish today.

Fishing Notes

The Lucas Special Variant is a highly visible Atlantic salmon fly built around a strong combination of chartreuse, fluorescent blue and contrasting grey. Its bright body and collar make it a useful searching pattern when you want the fly to stand out, while the grey squirrel wing provides a more natural profile and movement than an entirely fluorescent dressing.

Fish it on a traditional across-and-downstream wet-fly swing, adjusting the casting angle and line control to vary the speed and depth of the presentation. The pattern is particularly well suited to situations where increased visibility is desirable, including coloured water, overcast conditions and lower-light periods, but it can also serve as a general searching fly when covering unfamiliar salmon water.

Frequently Asked Questions

What size Atlantic salmon fly should I choose?
Fly size depends on factors such as water level, water temperature, clarity, season and fishing conditions. Larger flies are often selected for higher or colder water, while smaller flies are commonly used as water levels fall and temperatures rise. Local preferences and river conditions can also influence fly selection.
Are these flies suitable for Atlantic salmon fishing in Newfoundland and Labrador?
Yes. These patterns are suitable for Atlantic salmon fishing in Newfoundland and Labrador, although individual patterns, sizes and presentations may be better suited to particular rivers or conditions. Where useful, additional information is provided in the Pattern History and Fishing Notes for the individual fly.
Are these Atlantic salmon flies tied in Canada?
Yes. DcTackle Atlantic salmon flies are tied in Canada by DcTackle using carefully selected fly-tying materials.
What materials are used in these Atlantic salmon flies?
The materials vary by pattern. The Pattern Recipe on each product page identifies the dressing used for that particular fly. Where appropriate, the Material Alternatives section also identifies other materials that can be used in place of traditional or specified materials.
Can I substitute different materials when tying this pattern?
Yes. Many traditional Atlantic salmon patterns have been dressed with different materials over time, often because of availability, regional preference or changes in fly-tying materials. Where suitable alternatives exist, they are identified in the Material Alternatives section of the product page.
Can I purchase the materials used to tie this pattern?
Where materials are available from DcTackle, they are shown in the Shop the Pattern section of the product page. Availability varies by pattern and material.

Shop the Pattern

Everything you need to tie this pattern, matched to the exact materials used.

Pattern Recipe

SW-007 · Lucas Special Variant

Hook
Maruto M30 Heavy Wire Salmon Hook
Thread
Semperfli 12/0 or 8/0 CWT Thread depending on hook size
Tip
Flat Silver Tinsel (xs) tied extra long
Body
Uni-Floss - Chartreuse with an underbody of white uni-stretch for hook size No. 4 and larger
Rib
Flat Gold Tinsel. XS for hooks size 8-12, S-M for larger hooks sizes
Throat / Collar Hackle
Fl. Blue schlappan or suitable other soft hackle
Underwing
Fl. Chatreuse Krystal Flash. 3-6 strands folded over itself
Wing — Layer 1
Grey Squirrel Tail
Head Finish
Black with a collar of Fl. Chartreuse micro chenille. Size appropriate for the hook size

Tying Video

Tying video coming soon.

This recipe represents the DcTackle dressing. Traditional Atlantic salmon flies often have multiple accepted variations, and materials may differ between historical, regional and contemporary dressings.

Image Note: Some product graphics use AI-assisted presentation. Fly imagery is based on actual DcTackle-tied flies; AI may be used for backgrounds, supporting imagery and visual presentation.

Pattern Notes

Tip: Use XS Flat Silver Tinsel, tied noticeably longer than a conventional salmon-fly tip. The extended silver section is a defining feature of the DcTackle dressing.

Wing & Underwing: Keep the Grey Squirrel Tail wing slightly beyond the hook bend. The Fluorescent Chartreuse Krystal Flash underwing should finish slightly shorter than the overall wing so the squirrel remains the dominant profile. Use approximately 3–6 strands folded over for the flash.

Chenille Collar: Use Fluorescent Chartreuse Micro Chenille for hook sizes #10–12. For #4–8, use standard-size Fluorescent Chartreuse Chenille to maintain proportion with the larger fly.

Body: On #4 and larger hooks, build a smooth foundation with White Uni-Stretch before applying the Chartreuse Uni-Floss. Keep the finished floss body clean and even.

Rib: Match the Flat Gold Tinsel to hook size—XS for #8–12 and S–M for larger sizes—while maintaining even spacing along the body.