UV Flashtail Whistler

I found a link to this on Complete Fisher Forum. It appears to be a the SBS from a member of the PFFA, Dougie. I thought it looked pretty good and gave it a crack and I don't think it came out too bad for a first attempt. I was lacking the red hackle feathers so I used soft stemmed marabou so it would wrap around easily.

The recipe is in the "Fly Tying Recipes for Predators" section.

Here it is:

This looks like it should have plenty of movement in the water and plenty of flash from the Flashabou tail.

First Trials of Slinky Fiber

I had a load of Slinky Fiber arrive today in a bundle of colours.

I haven't used this before so it's yet another thing to learn to tie with.

Having tied only two flies with it I am finding that there a small gap between too little and too much, it is a very fine line. It is very easy to control once you have the bundle in your fingers. I just need to find a couple of patterns to learn from to get a better idea of what it can do.

Here are my two attempts:

Namely "Tequila Sunrise" and "The Patriot"

I am yet to see this stuff in action, lets hope its as good as its supposed to be

Flashabou Flies - First Attempts

Having got some flashabou - here are my first 5 attempts. They range from about 6-8 inches in length. Its very easy to tie with it seems but annoying to split away from the bundled materials without taking more than you need. Guess that takes practice.

My Chew Valley Arsenal

Here are some pictures on the flies I will be taking with me next week.

Synthetic Flies

Mainly Bucktail, Some Feathers

Marabou and Zonkers

Hollow and Large Flies

Hollow, Ostrich Feathers and Deer Hair

I have all but the synthetic ones. I have synthetic materials coming so I can add to to those. Hopefully I can catch something with these...

Split Bunny Pattern

Deer Hair Zonker Pattern

Triple Zonker Epoxy Bunny

Big Bird Pattern

Dainger Fish Pattern

N.B. Don't bother with this as it is as is looks terrible in the water. I may come back to this to improve it, but not for now.

This is something I made up, although I can guarentee I wouldn't be the first to have done it and it probably has a proper name. But till I find that out I name thee "Dainger Fish", the 2-Tone Marabou Fish Pattern.

This fly is made up as follows:

Hook: 4/0 SL12 from http://www.uksaltwaterflies.com/
Body: Marabou (White, Yellow or Black or Olive), Krystal Flash (Pearl), Red Cock Hackle Feathers
Head: N/A
Eyes: Heavy Bead Chain from Homebase

1. Tie on the eyes above the point of the hook and lash on tight.
2. Tie on the first White feather in front of the eyes and tighten. Then tie the feather again just behind the eyes having taken the stem under the eyes.
3. Repeat again the other side.
4. Tie on the first of the coloured (Yellow, Olive or Black) in front of the eyes again and tie it off. Then tie the feather off again behind the eyes having pulled the feather over the eyes.
5. Repeat again the other side.
6. Ties in 5-6 strands of flash on each side for some sparkle.
7. Add in a small red cock hackle each side
8. Varnish off the threading at the front of the hook.

This is now complete.

Side Profile

Front Profile

Top Profile

Three different colours of the pattern

This one has been wetted and then squeezed out to dry. It looks a little scrawny, but had some size when pulled from the water and the marabou did move welll in the sink.

Notes: The fly currently floats and so may need some weighting. Could use epoxy or a strip of metal on the head glued in place to get it sinking. It is also light enough for the int/sinking line to take down easliy. Should cast OK but will update the notes once tested.

All Feathers and Hair

This fly is made up as follows:
Hook: 6/0 Partridge AD Swier Pike Fly Black Nickel Hooks
Body: Schlappen (Green), Cock Feathers (Grizzled), Krystal Flash (Pearl)
Head: Bucktail (Orange, Red)
Eyes: Heavy Bead Chain from Homebase
 

1. Tie on 4 Schallen Feathers at North, South, East and West of the hook with the curve facing outward. This is done above the point of the hook.
2. Tie in 5 Cock feathers, also with the curve going outwards. This is done in front of the Schlappen feathers.
3. Tie in Red Bucktail facing backwards towards the feathers and tie off. The repeat with Orange.
4. After that is tied off. Tie in the weighted eyes and use varnish to solidify the thread and the end of the fly.

Notes: This fly has not been tested yet and I will add notes when it has.

Deer Hair Baitfish

This one is made from Bucktail and Deer hair twisted around the hook.

Hook: 2/0 Turrell Saltwater Streamer

Tail: Bucktail (Olive, Flu Green)

Body: Deer hair (Red, Black, White)

Eyes: 3D Holo Eyes from Rich

Notes: Grab a pencil size of Color one bucktail and tie at the base of the hook above the barb. Then add some of color two. Tie it off and then glue to secure.

Then take some Deer hair, color one, hold at a 45 degree angle to the hook shaft, put 3 loose loops around and pull tight slowly and the hair will frizz out. Pack it up and repeat again in what ever color patter you like. You can make stripes this way, or repeat all in the same colour. Tie off at the front and glue. Then take some siccors and trim the excess away. This gives you  a better body shape.

It will be easy to cast and quite light and should like ok in the water.

Below is another variation. All of this was tied with bucktail which has different properties to that of Deer hair:

Hollow Style Fly

This was something I copied form another site, can't remember which and this is how it turned out. It does cast very well, doesn't hold any water and looks awesome in the water.

Hook: 4/0 Diiachi Style 3847
Body: Bucktail (Black, Red and White), Icelandic Sheep (Red), Krystal Flash (Pearl)
Head: Icelandic Sheep (Red)
Eyes: Holodome 1/4" eyes

Notes: Tie a pencil thickness of black bucktail facing foward on the hook from the normal place you would tie back from, spin it around the hook to make it evenly spread. Then add the same amount in red. Pack it together. Then tie the same amount in white facing back, so that the white is pressed against the black and red. From the front it should look a little like a starfish.

Tie in and spread evenly around the hook some Krystal Flash, Pearl, but very little (maybe 8-10 strands). Once that is in place, tie and spread evenly, icelandic sheep facing back. Not much is required for this as it spread and flows beatifully in the water.

For the head tie in and spread some more Icelandic sheep and repeat up to 3 times. Once complete pack it and then trim to make a head shape. Tie off at the font and glue to hold the thread.

Put some glue on the back of the eyes and put then in pace on the head.

Result: When it is in the water it create the shape of a full fish about 2" diameter and flows very very well. Very easy and light to cast.

Ostrich Feather Creation

Hook: 4/0 Diiachi Style 3847

Body: DNA Holofusion (Blue, Pink and Green), Ostrich hurls (Green and Red)

Neck: Red Marabou

Eyes: N/A

Notes:  Tied some Ostrich hurls at the back of the hook, then some DNA Holofusion (Pink), more hurls, more DNA Holofusion (Green), more hurls, more Holofusion (Blue) and finally more hurls. Then having secured all of that with varnish as I went through each material.I Palmered a red marabou feather and secures that off behind the eyes.

The last task is to flatten the barb with pliers before using it.

I have no idea if it will work, but it should look good in the water. The hook may be the issue, but we will see

Result: The fly didnt cast too well with the eyes on, nor did it look very fluid in the water. The eyes were snapped off and casting became very easy and the fly now sinks quite quickly and looks to have a tonne more movement. Also as a note, use less Holofusion as it can cause tangles on itself.