Or BHSHDH for short. The Bead Head Soft-Hackled Dark Hendrickson is simply a weighted riff on the classic Dark Hendrickson Winged Wet. Take the basic color scheme. Add a tungsten bead to give it some serious weight. Tie it on point, and the next time the the creek is up you’ll get your rig down fast with a few strategic mends. (Recipe by request, because at currentseams.com, we aim to please.)
Tying Notes: I hate to lose the lemon wood duck of the winged wet, so I usually tie this fly with that wonderfully variegated buggy feather in the tail. Having said that, the fly pictured uses hen. Muskrat is the traditional body fur; you could substitute any grey fur or dubbing blend. The feather I happened to choose for this fly has a mysterious dark center; it’s just a random occurrence. Sometimes I’ll use a black Sharpie to color the eye of the hook — it’s a quick visual code that tells me I used a tungsten bead.
currentseams.com 
Thanks. Only one pluck on Hendrickson Wets yesterday. Very light hatch, but brought two to hand on drys, and most importantly with dry feet in new waders!! Wasn’t crowded where I was as compared to every trail head I drove by! I am sure the popular pools were jammed though.
My pleasure. Glad you got out.
I like the idea of making the eye for bead type.
I’m using that idea!
Thanks!
Good idea, since I stole it from someone else…and so on… 🙂
My bad – Should have typed; I like the idea of MARKING the eye for bead type.
Good afternoon Steve: could you send me instructions for tying the BHSHDH? Many Thanks, Tim
Sent from my iPhone
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Tim, the instructions — recipe if you like — are below the photo. Construction should be intuitive. If it isn’t, check out this video for the BHSHPT. Hope that helps! https://currentseams.com/2015/10/26/soft-hackled-bead-head-pheasant-tail/
It was that dark ,as you call it eye of the hackle, that thru me. Also the muskrat dubbing shows up lite like squirrel belly.
Thanks again. Your the best.
Mark
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You’re very welcome, Mark. 🙂
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[…] Bead Head Soft-Hackled Dark Hendrickson Dark Hendrickson winged wet Hendrickson Spiders. Size 12, wet or dry fly hook, gray or rusty brown thread, tail material of your choice, a dusting of muskrat fur or dubbing, then brown partridge or dark dun hen hackle. Bead Head Soft-Hackled Pheasant Tail Old Blue Dun Squirrel and Ginger. Yeah, I know. Not a Hendrickson pattern. But on the Farmington, we often get a strong caddis hatch around Hendrickson time. If you place this as your top dropper, you’ll be covered if the trout are selectively feeding on the caddis. […]
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[…] So, tailor your presentation to to the water level. Most anglers associate the Hendrickson hatch with dry fly action. But I’ve had some crazy days nymphing when it seemed like it was a fish on every cast. You can use specific Hendrickson nymphs, pheasant tails or something like this. […]
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