A few flies I tied up today!

[bigjim5589]

I haven't tied much in a long awhile, but sat down & tied a few up today. Lead free eyes, bucktail, a little flash & some Fox Squirrel tail, and a couple of coats of Sally Hansen's. Tied on a Mustad saltwater jig hook. The box said 2/0, but they're closer to a size 2, approximately 3 1/2" each.


Hope you like them!





Close-up's:

[Capt. Ahab]

Pretty work...well done!

[Don Hershfeld]

Love the hot orange thread, believing that the Czech nymphing concept of subtle 'hot spots' probably carries over into all fly styles... Not only for enhanced detection by fish, but because it might suggest to a predator that "there's something a little wrong with that one... WUMPPP!"

I have used a few of those (what would we call them, lead-head jig style?) hooks for steelhead patterns, but have never made an A:B comparison of clouser behavior with and without the offset front shank segment. Any thoughts from frequent streamer users? I think I found those hooks to be lot harder to sharpen initially, but the added built-in weight is nice.

[Bonefish79]

Good looking flies, I'm thinking they'd work well on redfish.

[bigjim5589]

Thanks for the comments!

Don, I've tied flies on jig hooks many times. The thing I like most about them is they ride properly, with the hook point up, with little or no weight added. For Clouser style flies, they work well in very shallow water. If you fish this type fly in a shallow tidal creek with some current, the weight is needed, but too much & they snag a lot. The jig hook helps limit snagging IMO. I do however agree, these hooks are not particularly sharp right out of the box. I'll sharpen & de-barb these before I use them.

Joe Bruce ties a lot of his flies with that same red thread. It's worked well for me too. I really can't say for certain why, but you may be correct with that "something's wrong" theory!

Bonefish79, thanks! Yes, I think they might also! I really had no specific species in mind for these, and mostly fish for LM Bass & Rockfish. I have gotten down to the SC coast a few times, but as yet have not gotten the chance to cast to Redfish with a fly. Last time I was down, the weather didn't cooperate very well. Maybe someday!

[Jim_W]

I tie something very similar inspired by Joe bruce. Will catch just about anything that eats crabs. I got a 4lb 11oz croaker on the same fly last season. My clouser box has a bunch of assorted colors and at least 10 in the same colors you are using. Nice ties now go use them and post a fish story!!

[bigjim5589]

Jim, I keep several of Joe's Crab Colored Clousers in my fly boxes as well. I first met Joe many years ago when he opened the Fisherman's Edge. He certainly has some flies that can be inspiring!

I was thinking more in terms of tan & white with these, but really like the natural red/tan & black barring on a Fox Squirrel tail. I feel the black often adds a lot to the productivity of a fly. Perhaps it's the contrast, or that "somethings wrong" look that Don suggested.

Here's a few more I tied awhile back for a trip to the SC coast. These were tied with Coyote, Kit Fox, Arctic Fox & Red Fox tail hair. The all tan fly is tied with Scottish Highland Cattle hair, something I found on Ebay. I was hoping to throw these at Redfish & Seatrout but the weather didn't cooperate. They'll get used eventually!










Joe's Crab Colored Clouser

[Jim_W]

Oh Man I like all of them. I think im tying flies tonight. Any one of them your favorite? I always put a few strands of orange buctail in the middle and gold flashaboo really seems to trigger some vicious strikes.

[bigjim5589]

Thanks Jim! Actually I can't say that I have a favorite. I think they would all catch some fish. These were all tied on a whim, and that's probably how I would select one to use.