Fish Whistle

Fish Whistle — The Chem Sister’s Wild Child

1. The History and Lore of the Mother: Chem’s Sister (Chem A)

To grow Fish Whistle is to touch the very beginning of the Chemdog legend. The mother of this strain is Chem’s Sister (often called Chem Sis or the ‘A’ Pheno), a plant that emerged from the most famous bag of marijuana in history.

The year was 1991. The location was the Deer Creek Amphitheater in Indiana, during a Grateful Dead tour. A young grower named Greg (who would become known as Chemdog) purchased a pound of “Dog Bud” from two fellow Deadheads, Joe Brand (Wonkanobe) and P-Bud. The weed was legendary—grown indoors in Colorado, it was said to be so potent it made you “roll over like a dog”.

Greg found 13 seeds in that pound. He popped the first four in 1991.

• One was a male, which he foolishly discarded (a decision that haunts preservationists to this day).
• Three were females. They were labeled simply “Chemdog,” “Chemdog A,” and “Chemdog B.”
  • The first became the Chem ’91 (the Skunk VA cut), the mother of the sour movement.
  • The “B” pheno was lost or discarded.
  • The “A” pheno became Chem’s Sister.

The Chem Sis is the eccentric aunt of the family. While the ’91 and the D are known for their heavy, narcotic, indica-leaning effects, the Sis is a sativa-dominant freak. It grows like a vine, stretching uncontrollably, and produces a high that is racy, electric, and borderline anxiety-inducing. It is also notoriously unstable, prone to throwing male stamen (nanners) if looked at the wrong way—a trait it famously passed on to its most famous grandchild, Gorilla Glue #4 (which is Sour Dubb x Chem Sis x Chocolate Diesel).

2. Scientific Breeding Logic: Taming the Shrew

The creation of Fish Whistle (Chem Sis x Stardawg) is a textbook example of “corrective breeding.” The Chem Sis is a nightmare to grow; it needs constant support, yields moderately, and takes 10+ weeks to finish. However, its terpene profile—a sharp, high-pitched ammonia and citrus scream—is irreplaceable.

By crossing the Sis with the Stardawg male, Greenpoint aimed to:

1. Reinforce Structure: The Stardawg’s thick stems shore up the Sis’s floppy branches, allowing the plant to hold its own weight.
2. Reduce Hermaphroditism: While the Chem lineage is generally intersex-prone, the Tres Dawg side of the Stardawg father brings a degree of stability from its Afghani influence.
3. Amplify the High: Both parents are high-THC cultivars. The combination ensures a ceiling-free potency that hits immediately behind the eyes.

3. Phenotype Hunting Guide

When popping a pack of Fish Whistle, you are essentially looking for a “Stabilized Sis.”

4. Grower Notes

• Nutrient Sensitivity: The Fish Whistle can be sensitive to nitrogen in late flower. High N levels will exacerbate the foxtailing and delay maturity.
• Support: Despite the Stardawg influence, the Sis-leaning phenos will still stretch 2-3x in flower. Trellising is mandatory.
• Hermaphroditism Watch: Keep a close eye on the lower nodes during weeks 3 and 4 of flower. Stress (light leaks, temperature swings) can trigger the Sis’s genetic memory of the 1991 bag seed origins.
• Harvest: Do not pull early. The Sis high is already racy; harvesting with clear trichomes can result in a paranoid, jittery experience. Wait for at least 10-20% amber trichomes to ground the effect.