BENDBACK BEAD BUTT BAITFISH

BENDBACK BEAD BUTT BAITFISH

Hook : Mustad 34007 # 1 - 2

Thread : Mono Thread

Bead : Cyclops Bead Eyes Nickle 5/32

Wing : Enrico's Sea Fibers White , Yellow , Green And Brown

Side Flash : Flashabou

Eye : Mirage Eyes 7/32

Glue : Dave's Flexament

Fly Tier: Capt. Pat Damico

Tying Instruction :

1) Crimp barb with pliers and make a very slight bend near hook eye to create bent back design, then insert nickel bead, small hole first over point of hook and place hook in vice upside down. Wrap thread behind bead where you want it to be positioned, form small ball of thread, whip finish, and slide bead over thread "bump." Place drop of flexament in large bead hole to cement bead to hook shank. Put aside to get hard.

2) Start thread in front of bead. Select small clump of white Sea Fibers twice length of finished fly (minnow pattern). Wrap strands around thread and secure to top of hook in front of bead. Stroke fibers back to rear of hook and wrap thread over fibers just enough to secure them. Add another small clump of white in the same manner in front of and close to the first. If you have enough to represent the body of a minnow, place some flashabou or silver Lite Brite fibers in front of the white Sea fibers. Stroke back and comb to break any bent fibers.

3) Place a small clump of yellow or chartreuce Sea fibers in front of flashabou, bend around thread and secure. A small clump of darker Sea fibers will finish the fly, when applied in the same manner. As these are secured, shape a head with the thread. Whip finish.

4) Place one Miracle eye on each side of the head. Remove fly from vice and stroke and comb fibers to get desired shape. If satisfied, coat head and eyes with Dave's flexament that is thinned. After it sets up, apply more flexament to give head desired finished shape. Place some flexament on bottom of hook shank where thread is to make fly very durable.

Note :

Use any large gap short shank hook. This concept can be used for any size baitfish in fresh or saltwater. The bead, not only provides weight in the right place, but also flash for attraction. A red bead could represent a wounded baitfish. Redfish and snook in stained water seem to prefer a brass or copper bead. Bead size will vary sink rate.

ABOUT THE FLY TIER

Homepage : www.captpat.com

E-mail : flyguy@captpat.com

Address :
2981 E. Vina del Mar Blvd.

City : St. Pete Beach State : FL Zip : 33706

I began fly-fishing and tying flies at the age of ten, usually pursuing freshwater trout in the streams of the Pocono Mountains, PA. Large and smallmouth bass were the species of fish available in the rivers and ponds close to home. I used my fly rod mostly, but also spinning and bait casting equipment. For several years, I fished freshwater bass tournaments in Canada where walleye, northern pike and musky were also available. Fishing the Great Lakes and its tributaries for salmon and lake trout provided some real challenges. My first saltwater fly-fishing trip was about fifteen years ago for bonefish. I found the experience exhilarating. The following are some of the places I have fished over the years… Florida Keys, Bahamas, Mexico, and South America, as well as many other tropic islands. St. Pete Beach is where I have lived for the last eight years.