Okies or more properly oakies were first popularized by Vancouver Island steelheaders.While there are few native oak trees in the north west Vancouver island residents have planted many English or white oaks. The timber was used for boatbuilding and the acorns formed the basis of the okie drifter.
When an acorn is dried for several months the inner seed shrinks more than the outer casing giving the well known rattle in the drum effect.
Modern nail polishes which include gold or silver dust and pearlized finishes employing holographic mylar flakes make excellent paints for okies.
You may not have enough time this year to collect the acorns formed last summer and ripened in the fall but if you start early next year you can have a good supply of okie drifters come winter steelhead season.
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