Baitfish/Crayfish

A combination of styles...baitfish shape, prawn or crayfish colors.

Big Baitfish

These large baitfish imitations are tied using the big fly fiber for the tail, craft fur/polarfibre for the head, and shredded mylar (such as angel hair, wings 'n' flash, etc.) for the veiling. I used Hard as Hull head cement to bond the flash material to the polarfibre, which gave the fly its final shape.

Tying sequence (given for the middle fly, since that one has a magnum bass rattle inside, which adds extra step):

-tie the heavy duty rattle on the bottom of the shank , so the hook rides correctly;

-tie the big fly fiber over and around the rattle, along with some polarflash for the flashtail. Fold the material over so it doesn't pull. If you don't want the rattle, add the twiston strip to keel the hook before tying. Omit this if you are using regular hook;

-reverse tie (hollow style) four clumps of polarfibre for the head: three white for belly/sides and one for the back in contrasting color. You can also use craft fur, or both. Polarfibre will give you smoother texture of the finished fly, though. For bunker fly (top), add another bunch od polarfibre to create wider profile. Comb the fur before folding;

-add a bunch of shredded mylar to veil the fly, fold and tied down. You can vary the colors, or add red under to simulate the bleeding gills. Comb the mylar to create a shroud around the fly;

-coat the fly liberaly with acrylic cement (I used Hard as Hull.) It dries quickly and it is easy to shape the fly to give it more round or oval cross profile. The cement will bond mylar fibers to the fur. Adjust the shape (leave it round or squeeze for flatter profile). Goop the eyes and you are done!

Oliver Kite

A rare footage of Oliver Kite from his TV series Kite's Country is available on Youtube... It is fascinating to watch this legendary master fisherman and naturalist uncover the hidden world of chalkstreams through beautiful narratives, while taking trout on Mibro glass rod with his Bare Hook nymphs (and refusing to wear the polarizer glasses, considering them an unfair advantage!) Kite was a true gentleman and a true pioneer!

Sneak Peek

I am wrapping up two new saltwater builds... Here's the picture of reel seats. More photos to follow next week, once they are done!

Mummichog/Striped Killifish

A common baitfish in estuaries and salt marshes... Rabbit strip for the tail, white/tan/olive craft fur, and angel hair for the body.

Candy Baitfish

Ingredients: craft fur for the tail, polarfibre and angel hair. The body is reverse tied polarfibre, veiled with angel hair and sealed with Hard as hull cement.

Toad Time

Toad flies are so cool, since they resemble many things at once: crustaceans, baitfish, squid, worms... I like flies you can fish confidently, letting the fish decide what they look like. I tied these for stripers. Even though originally designed as a tarpon fly, toad flies are becoming popular for many other species of marine gamefish.

Tidal

L/R (T/B): Saltwater Sculpin, Long Legged Shrimp, Easy Jig Crab

Little Shrimps and Sand Fleas

Surf perch flies: Shrimpalicious (top) and the sand flea (mole crab) imitation...

Bon Appétit

Top/bottom: Bon Appetit (small generic shrimp/crab imitation), the natural, Pudgy Bait, Hen Pheasant Flounder (a version of D. Skok's fly, tied entirely with hen pheasant feathers.)

Continuation

Silent Night (top), Exacto Clupeid (mid), Ghostly Jigminnow (bottom)

Season's Greetings!

Top/bottom: Ray's Fly; Small Brown Seaworm; Rusty Furtail Worm; Fireworm; Jighook Silversides; Techno Herring; Snake, Rattle & Jig Eel

Recent Ties

The winter arrived to Minnesota on the big door... Now's the time to sip a favorite scotch or a Belgian-style brew, and tie some new flies!



Ephemera Emerger (above left), Ginger Caddis Emerger (center, right), Soft Hackle Hula Flatwing (below)

Soft Hackle Hula Streamer

This version is tied on a 60 degree jig hook, and features a Hula Wrap underbody.

Mullet

Saltwater baitfish, a swimming mullet imitation.

Bass Rod

I just finished this short bass/warmwater/lite saltwater rod. It is an 8 footer, for lines #7 or 8. Being a fan of graphite Fuji reel seats and screw-lock fighting butt configuration, I used similar components for many saltwater flyrods I built in the past. This rod looks very utilitarian in its appearance, but it feels like it will be a fun casting and (hopefully) fish-catching tool.

Solo

Fly fishing can certainly inspire you to write, compose, create... My recent Boston trip was a breath of fresh air I needed desperately. I wrote several pieces upon my return and you can hear them here...

Musica Solitaria by VLAD