From time to time I get bored with tying trout flies and I like to stretch my tying fingers and expand my brain and come up with something out there.
Occasionally friends give me a fly and ask me to copy it, as is the case with this particular fly. Not sure if it has an official name as I have never seen it around, but it is big and ugly and loud, so I am sure it will appeal to anything from cod to barramundi.
Big natives such as cod and barra need big food items to fill them up, and as they can be lazy and often go doggo, so something big and gaudy is needed to arouse them from their stupor.
This fly therefore has lots of colour and movement, something akin to a sub aquatic Mardi Gras, and with the right action you can make it samba amongst the snags.
Fishing this fly as big and un-aerodynamic as it is requires some specialised gear and some modified casting actions to avoid unwanted piercings and other associated lumps, bumps and contusions on the back of ones skull.
Rod from #7 upwards would be ideal. Leaders do not have to be too technical, a single length of mono about the same length as your rod of between 5-8kg will suffice. Attach the flies to the leader with a loop knot, this will allow the fly to move freely.
These big natives thrive on structure and as such you will need to get your flies deep into their territory, put the flies through their front doors so to speak. Use a number of different retrieves starting with rapid quick succession strips of about 15-20cm. Alternate this with a longer draw and pause retrieve.
TYING INSTRUCTIONS and MATERIALS
| HOOK: | Mustad 34007 1/0 |
|---|---|
| THREAD: | Black bug thread |
| BODY: | Black & chartreuse marabou |
| THROAT: | Red marabou |
| EYES: | Red 3D eyes |
| WEED GUARD: | 30LB mono |
| FLASH: | Gold crystal flash |
Place the hook in the vice and tie in to sections of mono immediately behind the eye as shown, continue winding the thread tying down the mono part way around the hook bend. Apply a liberal coat of superglue over the thread and mono to secure in place, ta
Take two of the stick on eyes and place them either side of the head as shown.
Take your tube of clear Cure Goo (thick) and begin to build the resin up in between the eyes and around the rest of the head area. Once you have achieved the desired shape set the resin using your UV torch, more goo can be added as needed.
Check the profile and then take it for a walk.
Tie in a good bunch of the chartreuse marabou and tie down securely
Take a small bunch of the crystal flash and tie in similarly.
Now take several small bunches of black marabou and tie in on top, underneath and either side of the hook shank.
Repeat step 4 using chartreuse marabou.
Repeat the above process again using further bunches of black marabou.
Now tie in a bunch of gold tinsel flash as shown
Rotate the hook in the vice and tie in a bunch of bright red marabou as a throat hackle
Now start building up a good base of thread to form the head, as you do bring the mono weed guard up and tie in as shown, ensure the weed guard is below the hook point. Tie it in securely leaving the excess sticking out beyond the hook eye.
