Fly of the moment

Posted: Sat Jul 11, 2009 9:17 pm

These are the flies that have been doing the business for me lately, and actually i have caught more fish on these than the ubiquitous Clouser. Based on the Glass Minnow pattern, the poor old knackered fella at the bottom has taken over a hundred fish!

Posted: Sun Jul 12, 2009 5:04 am

I was looking at the SBS for these last night so im on the vise later boyo!

Posted: Sun Jul 12, 2009 10:52 am

I take it by 'on the vice later', your not talking about the night time ladies of Portsmouth??! batting eyelashes

Seriously though i love these flies, their a bit more intricate than Clousers to tie but they are a better Whitebait imitation than a Clouser.The Clouser fishes too deep when the Bass are chasing fry up in the water or on the surface and i couldn't get the Fish to take it in these circumstances.
I have been using all white up to now, the pink is a new variation after observing the irridescence of the Whitebait which does actually flash pink.
The overall effect in the water is really good.

I'd be happy to put up details if anyone wants to try tying these.

Posted: Sun Jul 12, 2009 4:50 pm

Im going to make some of these up i fink...wil post results

Member Joined: Jun 10, 2009 Posts: 91 Location: Winchester

Details for this would be great WightFish

Member Joined: Jun 05, 2009 Posts: 90

RichHL wrote:

Details for this would be great WightFish

A couple of them dropping through my letterbox would be better! big grin

Posted: Mon Jul 13, 2009 11:55 am

Here it is then guys:

Materials:
Hooks size 6 or 4 , i use Mustad C70SD's or Daiichi's
Slinky fibre, White, and pink for the variant
Crystal Flash
White DNA Frosty Fish Fibre
Holographic Braid for the Body
3mm stick on eyes for size 6 hook and 4mm for size 4
Mono tying thread
Super glue or Nail varnish
5 minute Epoxy

First whip all the way down the shank of the hook from the eye to the bend, and a little onto the bend if you wish for a bit longer body.(PIC 1)

Next whip on the Holo Braid at the bend end,( i use Bills Body Braid), and then return your thread to the eye end of hook.
Hand palmer the Braid back up the hook also to the eye end using slightly overlapping turns to build a bit of a body.(PIC 2). Once at eye of hook whip over braid to capture it and trim excess off. Apply super Glue or Nail varnish to Braid all the way along to seal.This also nicely brings out the Holographic effect of the Braid.(PIC 3)
Cut apiece of the White slinky fibre roughly three to four times the length of the hook and half a centimetre thickness.
Taper the material by teasing out the centr strands at each end.
place the centre of your piece of Slinky by the eye of the hook, so half your material is laying along the shank and half is hanging over hook eye and whip on with three or four turns.(PIC 4)
Now add some strands of Crystal flash, four to six, whatever you like, the same length as the slinky laying along the shank.
Bend back the excess piece of Slinky over the shank so it lays on top of the other slinky and crystal flash,(PIC 5). and whip into place. Add some more Crystal Flash as before.(PIC6).
Cut a length of White DNA Frosty Fish Fibre just one or two millimetres longer than the slinky and lay it on top so that it overhangs the bend end of the slinky, this helps to shape the fly in the water as the FFF is quite a heavy material.(PICS 6&7).
Now build a head with your thread for the eyes and epoxy and then whip finish and seal with super glue or nail varnish.(PIC 8).
Stick on eyes
Apply a thin layer of epoxy, i use a cocktail stick for this,(PIC 9). run the epoxy into shape by turning the fly in your fingers and allow to dry before adding a second coat and shaping head again by running the epoxy round the head. (PIC 10).
The completed fly should look something like this (pic 11).

For the Pink variant, start with the pink slinky and only use a piece double the length of the hook and then put a white piece on top also only double the length of the the hook.(no bending back of the material, just whip it on in line with the eye). The rest is the same.

Hope you enjoy the SBS, if you have any queries please let me know, be gentle it's my first time!

Now Go and catch some BASS!, hope you have as much success,(and as much fun!), with the Glass Minnows as i have.

Best Fishes
Chris

PIC 1

PIC 2

PIC 3

PIC 4

PIC 5

PIC 6

[img]

PIC 7

PIC 8

PIC 9

PIC 10

PIC 11

Posted: Mon Jul 13, 2009 12:24 pm

Damn fine pictures there WF.
Cheers

Posted: Mon Jul 13, 2009 12:35 pm

Why thankyou BF, surprising what you can do with a £50 camera set on macro innit?! smug

Posted: Mon Jul 13, 2009 7:13 pm

Nice looking flies Chris, will have a crack at them myself when I eventually receive the materials ordered from UK Saltwater Flies. Can't help noticing that your finger nails could do with a clip old chap.

Posted: Mon Jul 13, 2009 9:35 pm

If i clip em i can't wear my nail varnish at the weekends batting eyelashes

Posted: Tue Jul 14, 2009 7:12 pm

Fair point. nailbiting

Posted: Tue Jul 14, 2009 8:18 pm

why do my macro shots come out like a shower of sh!t.I need some tuition, Daft Wader to the rescue!